A permanent and often debilitating condition, cerebral palsy, affects thousands of babies born in the United States each year. Parents may find themselves overwhelmed by meeting the number of special needs that may be present for children with cerebral palsy. However, there are numerous cerebral palsy associations throughout the country that help individuals and families find financial, medical, educational and informational resources.
Below is a list of cerebral palsy resources in the U.S. where families can turn to for help:
United Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy was founded in 1949 to advance the rights and improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. With a nationwide network of affiliates, UCP provides an array of services including:
The national office of UCP is also involved in legislative advocacy and research initiatives.
Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation
The CPIRF (CPIRF) is an association dedicated to funding research relevant to developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy. Advocacy for research in the areas of prevention, early diagnosis, curative strategies and rehabilitation is the focus of CPIRF.
Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association
Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA) provides information and support to parents of children with hemiplegia or hemiplegic cerebral palsy. By joining CHASA, parents can:
Easter Seals
In the early 1900s, Easter Seals was founded to help individuals with special needs and their families. The organization offers a variety of services to people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, including:
March of Dimes
This organization is dedicated to the prevention of birth defects, infant mortality and premature birth, which is a risk factor for cerebral palsy. The March of Dimes has a website with information on infant health and other topics of interest to parents of newborns.
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
NICHCY is a resource for learning about programs and services that are available for infants and children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Parents can find out about educational programs (including individualized education programs, or IEPs), state resources, and services for special needs children.
National Disability Sports Alliance
In 1987, United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association was the name of this organization that has gone on to coordinate competitive sports events for individuals with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities.
The NDSA specifically formulates athletic rules, implements policies, conducts championship games and selects athletes to represent the United States in international competition.
Locating Cerebral Palsy Associations in Your Area
United Cerebral Palsy has affiliates across the country and can help you locate additional cerebral palsy associations in your area. Some of the associations mentioned above also list resources on their websites.
Mail this postClassified as a group of disorders, cerebral palsy creates difficulty in the person’s ability to move with ease. It also has an effect the the person’s ability to maintain proper balance and posture. Cerebral palsy is a disorder that typically shows within the first few years of an individual’s life and the condition usually doesn’t worsen over time. However, those who are living with cerebral palsy can have trouble walking, talking and generally enjoying life, which can have great implications on their growth.
Each year, thousands of babies are diagnosed with cerebral palsy in the United States. Treatments for cerebral palsy are constantly being improved although there is no cure. Unfortunately, many of these cases are the result of errors made during pregnancy and childbirth. Malpractice lawsuits are brought against medical facilities, physicians, hospital staff and midwives each year. Hundreds of families have been awarded cerebral palsy settlements as a result of these lawsuits.
What to Do if your Child has Cerebral Palsy
Newborns are made susceptible to cerebral palsy through infections during the mother’s pregnancy that were never caught, a lack of oxygen to the fetus for an extended period of time, a disease within the bloodstream that wasn’t properly treated or monitored or an unexpected premature birth.
It is important to take legal action immediately if you have a child that has been injured due to medical negligence during labor or delivery. Medical negligence or inadequate medical care may result in cerebral palsy which may have been prevented with proper precautions being taken. Medicine has come a long way in recent years and every hospital and healthcare facility should be well equipped with professionals and the latest in equipment to prevent such tragic accidents from happening.
It is important to contact a cerebral palsy lawyer right away, since there are time constraints for filing these lawsuits. Depending on the state in which you live, the time that the victim has to take legal action and file a suit will vary.
How to Receive a Cerebral Palsy Settlement
When a child is born with cerebral palsy parents are suddenly faced with lifetimes worth of medical bills and childcare expenses. These expenses can be dealt with through the assistance you receive as the result of filing a cerebral palsy lawsuit. Your child’s future will also be made better by receiving extra help through personal care, which can hopefully eliminate some of their emotional and physical distress.
The first step to receiving a cerebral palsy settlement is to find an attorney that specializes in these types of malpractice cases. You will want to find an attorney that you can rely on and trust. Your cerebral palsy lawyer will evaluate your case and give you the legal guidance you are seeking to be compensated for any wrongdoing.
Do You Need to Contact an Attorney? Contact a cerebral palsy attorney to learn more and to have your case evaluated.
Mail this postAnesthesia is traditionally used to take away feeling of pain or distress. During painful procedures anesthesia is regularly used to numb the pain, but there have been other cases that proved it did more harm than it did good.
There are several different kinds of anesthesia and the kind that is used during surgery depends upon the patient and the procedure being done. The types of anesthesia that are commonly used are:
When a patient is in labor, the epidural anesthesia is typically used. A local anesthetic is injected by the spinal cord and the nerves that are connected to it when an epidural is given. The entire body, particularly the abdomen, the hips and the legs are blocked from the pain for this reason.
Cerebral Palsy is Caused by Anesthesia How?
Researchers proved that after an epidural is given, the fetal heart rate can significantly drop. After a mother is given epidural anesthesia fetal distress of the baby can be the result. The exact cause of this is unknown by the researchers and doctors but they assume it is because the blood pressure of the mother is lowered therefore blood cannot be pumped into the uterus correctly so the adequate amount of oxygen is delivered to the unborn baby.
As previously stated, it is difficult for the muscles of the patient’s lower body’s arteries to keep the blood flowing adequately through the body due to the epidural anesthesia. When a patient receives anesthesia, the heart does not respond well to the body’s needs that are changing, especially during childbirth. As a result of the epidural anesthesia not being administered correctly, or due to the doctor’s negligence in monitoring the epidural, the baby could be born with cerebral palsy.
During labor and delivery when the epidural anesthesia is used the baby may experience periods of a slow heart rate and normally thus does not affect a healthy baby, it may be harmful to babies that are at high risk already for instance already suffering from another problem.
Cerebral Palsy Resulting from Anesthesia
As a result of the anesthesia’s strong effects, a baby can develop cerebral palsy due to the lack of oxygen it may be receiving during childbirth. The condition cerebral palsy affects parts of the body such as the brain, the body’s muscles and motor functions. The condition can be severe or mildly severe but however severe it is, it can be life changing. Treatments are available for those living with cerebral palsy because researchers have not yet found a cure for the condition.
You may know someone who has cerebral palsy due to an anesthesia mistake? If so, please contact us today to speak with an experienced cerebral palsy attorney who will better inform you about the legal options available to you and your loved ones.
Mail this postWhen parents learn that their child has cerebral palsy, it can be very difficult for them. It’s a devastating and often debilitating condition with no cure and which generally requires a lifetime of treatment. There are estimates totaled at over 0,000 for a lifetime of treatment for cerebral palsy. The consequences of cerebral palsy can be overwhelming for families when they don’t know where to turn for assistance.
A cerebral palsy attorney may be someone to turn to, depending on the circumstances that caused the child’s condition.Families have legal rights and may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering if the cerebral palsy was caused by medical malpractice. If you suspect that your child’s cerebral palsy was due to a preventable birth injury, a cerebral palsy attorney can evaluate your case and help you understand your legal alternatives.
Is Medical Malpractice the Cause?
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy is given to thousands of babies born in the U.S. each year. The causes of cerebral palsy are not known yet evidence shows that brain damage that occurs during or after the birth process may result in this disability. Brain damage occuring during the birth process is often preventable by the medical staff being attentive and taking certain precautionary measures. Some of these precautions include:
Brain damage and cerebral palsy may result from the failure to take any of these precautions.
When Should You Contact a Cerebral Palsy Attorney?
You should contact a cerebral palsy attorney if:
While these things do not automatically indicate that medical malpractice is to blame, they should nevertheless be properly evaluated by an experienced cerebral palsy attorney.
How a Cerebral Palsy Attorney Can Help
There are numerous ways a cerebral palsy attorney can help you and your family if you suspect that medical malpractice caused your child’s condition, including
To learn more or to schedule a free case evaluation, contact a cerebral palsy attorney today.
Mail this postThe term cerebral palsy is slightly misleading in that it refers to a group of disorders, rather than a single disorder, caused by damage to the brain and marked by impaired movement and coordination. A diagnosis of cerebral palsy, ranging from mild to severe in nature, is given to one or two of every 1,000 babies born in the U.S. each year.
Doctors are still trying to understand how brain damage causes cerebral palsy, but they do know that damage sustained at any point during fetal development, during birth or within the first months of the baby’s life may result in this debilitating condition. Also, research has shed light on factors that may increase the risk of cerebral palsy and, in some cases, the condition may be preventable.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
The major types of cerebral palsy include:
A child that displays the signs and symptoms of more than one type of cerebral palsy has what is known as mixed cerebral palsy.
Cerebral Palsy Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy vary according to the child and severity of the condition, but may include:
In some cases, cerebral palsy is accompanied by mental retardation or other complications. Extensive treatment and the use of special equipment may be required in cases of severe cerebral palsy. On the other hand, those with mild cases of cerebral palsy may require minimal treatment or assistance.
Cerebral Palsy Causes and Risk Factors
Some of the known causes and risk factors for cerebral palsy include:
Not all cases of cerebral palsy are preventable. Medical negligence or inadequate medical care may result in cerebral palsy which may have been prevented with proper precautions being taken. If you think medical malpractice is a factor in your child’s cerebral palsy, contact a cerebral palsy lawyer today to discuss your legal options.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebral Palsy
Children who are experiencing signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy should undergo a medical evaluation to determine a diagnosis. Initially, the doctor will check for muscle tone, reflexes and movement then follow this up with tests that may include and MRI, CT scan and others.
Once a diagnosis of cerebral palsy has been determined, the child will typically be referred to a specialist to determine treatment options. Various treatments can help to manage this uncurable condition and improve the quality of life for a child with cerebral palsy. Common cerebral palsy treatments include:
Assistive technologies such as railings, wheelchairs, and communication devices can also help children in their daily tasks. Enhanced functioning may be experienced by some cerebral palsy children with the help of visual and hearing aids, splints and braces. And research into cerebral palsy treatments is ongoing, revealing promising options like dolphin therapy and spacesuit therapy.
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