CHILD WITH CEREBRAL PALSY?

The consequences of this potentially catastrophic condition affect not only the child with cerebral palsy but also usually place a severe burden on the patient's family and caregivers. CP is usually attributed to natural causes however approximately 10% of diagnosed cases are the result of poor judgment on the part of healthcare professionals which may occur shortly prior to, during or immediately after birth resulting in permanent damage to the child’s brain.

In almost every case where medical negligence is to blame, the child with cerebral palsy has suffered damage to the brain as a result of oxygen starvation. It should however always be remembered that this condition is a relatively common childhood disorder and in the vast majority of cases there is no negligence involved.

A child with cerebral palsy can never be cured and treatment only serves to alleviate the symptoms to a certain degree through therapy, the use of special equipment, certain pharmaceutical drugs and in extreme circumstances surgery.

If you are the carer of a child with cerebral palsy and there is the slightest suspicion that the condition may have been caused by medical negligence then an attempt should be made to investigate the matter through a lawyer. Legal aid is available and it is almost always granted to a child with CP in order to facilitate initial investigations. The income and assets of the parents or guardian are not considered by the Legal Aid authority.

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