Cerebral Palsy: Causes and Claiming Compensation

Cerebral Palsy refers to a set of neurological conditions that affect a child's movement and co-ordination. Children suffering from Cerebral Palsy display a wide range of debilitating symptoms, and often develop other related conditions like epilepsy, delayed growth, incontinence and learning difficulties.

Sometimes Cerebral Palsy is caused by birth injuries to the brain, which can be the result of medical negligence on the part of a doctor or midwife. The condition can also occur as a result of:

• abnormal development of the brain, caused by injury to a baby's head, infections and genetic mutations.
• periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), or damage to the brain's white matter. This can be caused by infections such as rubella, premature birth and a mother having extremely low blood pressure.
• intracranial haemorrhage, caused by a mother having high blood pressure, infections during pregnancy or weaknesses in the baby's blood vessels.
• damage after birth, such as severe head injuries, can also cause Cerebral Palsy, although this is unusual.

The long-term severity of the condition can vary greatly, with some sufferers requiring life-long care. It is possible to claim compensation if a doctor or midwife acted negligently during your pregnancy or during the birth of your child, and this medical negligence directly contributed to your child's development of cerebral palsy.

Claiming Compensation

Medical negligence can come in many forms, but in the context of Cerebral Palsy it often involves a doctor or midwife failing to recognise that a baby is distressed during labour or failing to act quickly enough to ensure safe delivery of the baby. People with Cerebral Palsy often have long term care requirements. It is possible to claim financial compensation, awarded to help parents pay medical bills and carers, as well as compensating them for any pain and suffering they have experienced as a result of medical negligence.

If you are unsure of whether you are entitled to claim compensation, contact a clinical negligence solicitor as soon as possible. The team at Pannone LLP, a prominent Manchester-based law firm, regularly claim compensation on behalf of parents whose children have suffered serious birth injuries, and have developed Cerebral Palsy as a result.

For more information, visit the firm's website: http://www.pannone.com/solicitors-for-you/cn-cerebral-palsy.asp