Going forward with a cerebral palsy claim can be a stressful time for everyone involved but if the outcome is a success, you will be able to afford to give your child the high quality care and equipment they will need to deal with their condition.

Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition caused by damage to a specific area in the brain, this damage can lead to chronic conditions affecting body and muscle movement. Unfortunately, medical negligence during labour and delivery can sometimes cause cerebral palsy. Your child may have been left in the birth canal for too long causing a lack of oxygen to the brain, occasionally the umbilical cord can get tangled around the baby’s neck and cut off its oxygen supply. Other indicators of mistakes during delivery could include forceps being used incorrectly, failure to perform a caesarean at the correct time or failure to notice the mother’s high blood pressure. After the birth, specialists are often called in to attend to your newborn, but make sure you find out why they were called and if there were any complications.

It is said that 10% of all cases of cerebral palsy are due to birth complications. If you feel your child’s condition is a result of medical negligence, you will need to ensure you speak to specialist lawyers and medical experts – both to make your claim a successful one and to make sure you are thoroughly supported throughout the process. Firstly, you will need to prove the doctors and midwives did not meet the standard requirements during the delivery of your child, and then you will need to prove your child’s condition is as a result of this medical negligence.

If you decide to make a claim, you will have to be prepared to wait – claims can take a long time but rest assured, you will be given advice and support throughout. Medical records will need to be obtained from your GP and the hospitals you were treated in, this can take time. An obstetrician will then be asked to comment on whether mistakes were made during the delivery – this can take months as it is a complex procedure. MRI or CT scan reports will need to be obtained and paediatricians will then decide whether your child’s condition was caused by medical negligence. Reports are also needed from midwifery experts and doctors – all of this information can take up to a year to obtain. Eventually, the case will be taken to court and court proceedings can take up to a couple of years to move forward.

Cerebral palsy is a condition that reduces the quality of life and is extremely hard to live with. People with the condition need to be looked after for life, and financial support is essential for a member of family to be cared for professionally. Although a medical negligence claim may take years to go through successfully, the benefit of financial security will be able to help you care for your child for life.

Author Bio: Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Pearson Hinchliffe Solicitors, specialists in cerebral palsy compensation claims.

Category: Legal
Keywords: medical negligence, cerebral palsy, compensation claims, solicitors