The birth of a child should be a joyous occasion, filled with excitement. Tragically, though, all too often these hopes are dashed by medical malpractice, including that which results in cerebral palsy. This condition can leave your child with lifelong medical needs that devastate what many would consider a normal life, wracking you and your family with financial expenses that you never expected.
What causes cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy can be caused by many factors, but one common cause in the medical malpractice contest is oxygen deprivation. This lack of oxygen damages the brain, leaving a child with movement, speech, development, and other issues. Medical mistakes leading to cerebral palsy often occur under the following circumstances:
- A failure to diagnose and treat the child’s mother for a condition that exists prior to birth and that could lead to cerebral palsy.
- A birthing error that causes the child to lose oxygen, such as when the umbilical cord is compromised, or the child become stuck in the birth canal without quick remedial action.
- Newborn illnesses like jaundice and meningitis go untreated, thereby leading to brain damage.
You can read up on other causes of cerebral palsy, as there can be several in the medical context. But if you and your family are dealing with the realities of caring for a child with this condition, then you’re probably wondering how much it’s going to cost and how you can get a handle on those expenses.
How much does it cost to care for someone with cerebral palsy?
Treating this condition and caring for a loved one who has been diagnosed with it can be extremely expensive. After all, your child will have regular doctor appointments, appointments with specialists, medications, therapies, testing, and surgeries to try to make their condition as manageable as possible. Your child may also need to be treated for a co-occurring disorder, like an intellectual disability, thus adding to the expenses that you’d incur.
But how much will your cumulative costs be? That really depends on the specifics of your child’s needs. However, many people who have to pay for this care end up taking on $50,000 or more per year in medical and rehabilitation expenses. You might face additional secondary costs, too. This includes transportation, special education, and medical device expenditures. Together, these financial obligations can be financially crushing.
What can you do if your child has developed cerebral palsy due to medical malpractice?
If you’re child’s condition is tied to medical error, then you should consider taking legal action. A successful medical malpractice claim will not only help you acquire a sense of accountability, but it’ll also give you the financial resources necessary to cover your child’s needs.
Of course, these medical malpractice claims can be highly contentious given the financial stakes involved, which is why you need to be prepared with the strongest legal arguments possible heading into your case.
How do you craft those arguments? While you’ll need to gather medical records and talk to those who have been a part of your child’s care, you’ll also want to secure an expert witness who can help you demonstrate how your child’s medical team breached the applicable standard of care, thereby resulting in your child’s cerebral palsy.
All of that can be difficult to contemplate as you’re simply trying to ensure that your child’s daily needs are met. But that’s why it might be a good idea to seek out any assistance that you need along the way. By doing so, you’ll hopefully be able to acquire a just outcome in your medical malpractice case.