Cerebral Palsy
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy is a medical condition which results in impaired muscle movement and coordination and occasionally other disabilities. Whilst there is no cure, those with Cerebral Palsy can benefit from physiotherapy and occupational therapy and may be able to live independently.
What causes Cerebral Palsy?
The condition can occur as a result of the underdevelopment of the foetus’ brain whilst in the womb, perhaps as a result of infection during pregnancy. More typically, it is caused by damage to the brain before, during or shortly after birth. This may be through a restricted oxygen supply or a bleed on the brain itself.
How do I know what/ who is to blame?
There are a number of ways in which the condition may have resulted from the negligence of the doctor, nurse, midwife or other medical professional, including: –
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Failure to identify and treat an infection during pregnancy
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Delays in delivery (by natural birth or by Caesarean Section)
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Complications with the positioning of the umbilical cord (restricting Oxygen to the baby)
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Failure to adequately monitor the baby’s heart rate
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Failure to monitor vital stats such as blood sugar level
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Misapplication of treatment or drugs
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Failure to diagnose and treat jaundice
What are the symptoms?
Since Cerebral Palsy affects movement and coordination it is easy to miss in the very early stages and the symptoms often don’t present until the child starts to grow and develop. The first indication that a child has the condition may be: –
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Developmental delays in sitting up unaided, crawling or walking
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Difficulty in controlling movement, resulting in jerks or random spasms
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Weakness of the limbs
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A tendency to only walk on tiptoes
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Difficulty in swallowing foods or even liquids
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Problems with speech
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Impaired vision
It is worth noting that some of the above symptoms may be as a result of a condition other than Cerebral Palsy and the advice of your GP should always be sought. There are, of course, tests which can be carried out to confirm diagnosis.
Get in touch or make a claim by phoning: 0845 838 7089 or by filling out the form below:
Making a Claim
How do I make a claim?
Simply by contacting us at the first opportunity. The earlier we speak, the easier it is to capture all the details of your case and start working towards receiving the compensation you deserve.
Our initial free consultation will provide you with all the information you need to pursue your claim and, in cases where the healthcare provider has admitted liability, will allow us to request interim payments to help with any immediate costs you are incurring (e.g. medical costs, extra childcare, rehabilitation, travel to appointments etc.).
As well as confirming whether your child’s condition has been caused medical negligence, we can also give you an indication of the kind of compensation payment you may be likely to receive.
What will it cost to pursue my claim?
At BRM Legal we understand that you may already have been left out of pocket through having to pay various expenses. For this reason we are happy to take on your case on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that you will incur no costs unless your claim is successful*.
Even when you win your case, the majority of your legal expenses will be paid by the other side and any other costs will simply be deducted from your total compensation amount.
*Please note: This is subject to a No Win No Fee agreement having been signed with us (in conjunction with our insurers) and the terms of that agreement having been met by both parties.
How long do I have to make a claim?
As with any claim relating to medical negligence, a child has a right to claim (or have someone claim upon their behalf) any time until they are 18 years old and from this point the usual 3 year rule applies. If they have insufficient mental capacity to pursue a claim for themselves, they have an unlimited time to do so.
How long will it take to receive compensation?
This depends on the individual circumstances of the negligence in question and whether the healthcare authority have admitted liability. The severity of your child’s condition and their on-going recovery and rehabilitation needs will also be a factor in the time taken to reach a settlement as we want to ensure that we include every aspect of future needs in the final figure.
We will of course keep you updated throughout the process to tell you how your case is progressing and what the compensation total is likely to be.
How long will it take to receive compensation?
This depends on the individual circumstances of the negligence in question and whether the healthcare authority have admitted liability. The severity of your child’s condition and their on-going recovery and rehabilitation needs will also be a factor in the time taken to reach a settlement as we want to ensure that we include every aspect of future needs in the final figure.
We will of course keep you updated throughout the process to tell you how your case is progressing and what the compensation total is likely to be.
How long will it take to receive compensation?
This depends on the individual circumstances of the negligence in question and whether the healthcare authority have admitted liability. The severity of your child’s condition and their on-going recovery and rehabilitation needs will also be a factor in the time taken to reach a settlement as we want to ensure that we include every aspect of future needs in the final figure.
We will of course keep you updated throughout the process to tell you how your case is progressing and what the compensation total is likely to be.
Why should I choose BRM Legal?
At BRM we understand the trauma and emotions which can surround a medical negligence case, especially when it affects the health and well-being of your child. We don’t solely concentrate on the negligence itself; we make sure that we consider everything you and your family may be going through. Our compassionate team will offer you valuable, personalised support as well as fighting hard for the compensation you deserve.
Cerebral Palsy
The team at BRM Legal have a huge amount of experience surrounding Cerebral Palsy and – whilst no two outcomes are ever the same – we have most probably already been involved in a case similar to your own and certainly recognise when duty of care has been neglected.
We know that a Medical Negligence claim is not something which anyone enters into lightly and our professionalism ensures that we fight your case armed with knowledge and facts. We do not simply play on emotions; we are addressing genuine wrong-doing.
Focussed On Your Needs
What should I do now?
If you think that you have been failed by a member of the medical profession and your child has suffered as a result, then contact us today. Our friendly, approachable team will listen to your story and will talk you through your options in an entirely free consultation.
You can then choose to proceed however you wish, there’s no cost to you and no pressure from us.
If you need our services or simply need help & advice, call us now on:
0845 838 7089
