What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a physical disability that affects movement and posture.

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term that refers to a group of disorders affecting a person’s ability to move. It is due to damage to the developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth.

Cerebral palsy affects people in different ways and can affect body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance. Although cerebral palsy is a permanent life-long condition, some of these signs of cerebral palsy can improve or worsen over time.

People who have cerebral palsy may also have visual, learning, hearing, speech, epilepsy and intellectual impairments.

Cerebral Palsy Law: A Brief Explanation

A cerebral palsy lawyer is an attorney who specializes in representing individuals or families affected by cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that typically affects muscle control, movement, and coordination. These lawyers have specific expertise in the legal issues surrounding cerebral palsy cases and work to protect the rights and interests of their clients. Here are some of the key responsibilities and tasks of a cerebral palsy lawyer:

• Legal Consultation: A cerebral palsy lawyer provides legal advice and guidance to individuals or families who suspect that cerebral palsy may have resulted from medical negligence, birth injuries, or other forms of preventable harm.
• Case Evaluation: The lawyer evaluates the circumstances of the case, gathering relevant medical records, documentation, and expert opinions to assess the viability of a potential legal claim.
• Investigation: If there is a reasonable basis for a claim, the lawyer conducts a thorough investigation into the medical treatment and events surrounding the birth or subsequent injury. This may involve reviewing medical records, consulting with medical experts, and collecting evidence to build a strong case.
• Building a Legal Strategy: Based on the investigation, the lawyer develops a legal strategy tailored to the specific circumstances of the case. This includes identifying liable parties, determining the applicable legal theories, and outlining the potential damages that can be pursued.
• Negotiation: In many cases, cerebral palsy lawyers aim to negotiate a fair settlement with the responsible parties or their insurance companies. They advocate for their clients’ rights and work to secure a favorable resolution that provides appropriate compensation for medical expenses, ongoing care, therapy, rehabilitation, and other related costs.
• Litigation: If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiation, the cerebral palsy lawyer may file a lawsuit on behalf of their client and represent them in court. They handle all aspects of the litigation process, including legal pleadings, discovery, depositions, and presenting the case before a judge or jury.
• Expert Collaboration: Cerebral palsy cases often require collaboration with medical experts who can provide insights into the cause and impact of the condition. The lawyer may consult with medical professionals to strengthen the case and support their client’s claims.
• Compassionate Support: Throughout the legal process, a cerebral palsy lawyer provides empathetic support to their clients. They understand the challenges faced by individuals and families affected by cerebral palsy and work to ensure their voices are heard, their rights are protected, and they receive the compensation they deserve.

It’s important to consult with a reputable cerebral palsy lawyer who has experience in handling medical malpractice or birth injury cases to ensure effective representation and the best possible outcome for your specific circumstances.

Cerebral palsy is the result of a combination of events either before, during or after birth that can lead to an injury in a baby’s developing brain.

For example: Although prematurity is the largest risk factor for cerebral palsy, it is the sequence of events (causal pathways) that led to the premature birth that may have caused the cerebral palsy, rather than the premature birth itself.

In 13 out of 14 cases of cerebral palsy in Australia, the brain injury leading to cerebral palsy occurs either in the uterus (while the mother is pregnant) or before 1 month of age.

Stroke is the most common cause in babies who acquire cerebral palsy after 1 month of age. The stroke may occur spontaneously or arise from surgical or heart complications.

Rest assured that if your child suffers from cerebral palsy due to injury as a result from medical negligence, the cerebral palsy lawyers at Merson Law are here to help you.

Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

There are some signs that may indicate a child has cerebral palsy. Not all signs are visible at birth and may become more obvious as babies develop.

Babies

• Low muscle tone (baby feels ‘floppy’ when picked up)
• Unable to hold up his/her own head while lying on their stomach or in a supported sitting position
• Muscle spasms or feeling stiff
• Poor muscle control, reflexes and posture
• Delayed development (can’t sit up or independently roll over by 6 months)
• Feeding or swallowing difficulties
• Prefers to use one side of their body

Toddlers/Children

Although the brain of toddlers/children with cerebral palsy remains injured, the injury does not get worse as they develop.

Depending on the level of severity of cerebral palsy, toddlers and children may experience difficulties with physical development such as:

• not walking by 12-18 months
• not speaking simple sentences by 24 months

If your child is not reaching these milestones or they display some of the signs of cerebral palsy, you may need to speak to your early childhood nurse, general practitioner or paediatrician.

When is cerebral palsy diagnosed?

Cerebral palsy is a complex disability and diagnosis is not always an easy process. Doctors may suspect cerebral palsy if a baby has slow motor development, has tight or floppy muscle tone, or displays unusual postures.

The time varies when parents are given an official diagnosis that their child has cerebral palsy. Very premature babies are usually watched carefully and may have an early MRI scan (magnetic resonance imaging). However, most children with cerebral palsy are not born prematurely. Most are born at full term and it is not until they do not meet the usual infant milestones that any form of disability is considered. A MRI might show that they have an injury to the brain, but at that stage it is often too early to predict the impact.

The General Movements Assessment can be conducted from birth until 5 months of age. It is a strong predictor of cerebral palsy, particularly when certain changes to the brain are seen on an MRI. However, General Movements Assessment cannot predict the severity of cerebral palsy.

If a General Movements Assessment suggests that a baby is ‘at risk of cerebral palsy’, then intervention can start as early as possible.

How do doctors diagnose cerebral palsy?

They will pay special attention to the child’s movements – both their voluntary movements as well as their muscle tone.

Some children may have very relaxed, floppy muscles, while others have stiff, tight muscles.

Doctors will also look for any unusual postures or if the child favours one side over the other.

Scans such as MRI or CT may be ordered by the doctor.

One of the frustrations for parents is that sometimes a diagnosis can take a long time, with repeated tests and visits to specialists.

This may be because the child has a mild form of cerebral palsy, but it could also be because the doctor needs to make sure it is not another type of movement disorder that may be progressive (get worse over time).