An Ontario appeals court recently affirmed the $8.5 million medical malpractice award of a lower court to a severely brain-damaged Ontario woman’s family. The adult woman was born with cerebral palsy. After nearly dying at birth because of a hospital nurse’s failure to monitor the woman’s heartbeat during her mother’s labor, the woman now lives in an assisted care facility. Deprived of oxygen due to the subject nurse’s failure to monitor her heartbeat often enough during a one to three hour period after birth, the cerebral palsy victim has been relegated to depending on her family for financial support and care. The family was relieved when the decision to affirm the award was made and stated that the money will ensure that their loved one has quality care for the rest of her life.
Caring for Adults with Cerebral Palsy
Even though cerebral palsy is a non-progressive condition, secondary conditions usually develop in adults with cerebral palsy just as the result of time taking its toll. Muscle tightness worsens and internal distress also worsens in cerebral palsy victims. Thus, as adults with cerebral palsy age, they require more specialised care than previously, just as we all do as we age. Exercise is imperative in cerebral palsy adults to maintain cardio-pulmonary conditioning, weight control, joint mobility, bone density, coordination and physical strength. And, with documentation showing that adults with cerebral palsy sometimes suffer from severe anxiety and depression, exercise also helps these conditions as well.
Obtaining treatment for cerebral palsy in adults can prove challenging for families as medical professionals unfamiliar with the disorder may not address or properly treat certain underlying conditions because they are so unfamiliar with the disability that certain physical ailments are masked by the symptoms of cerebral palsy. Routine exams like dental visits and routine medical exams are neglected because dentists and doctors are reluctant to treat cerebral palsy patients who cannot remain still for the exam. Thus, having some financial assistance to find specialists to attend to an adult with cerebral palsy is imperative to keeping that adult healthy.
Contact an Experienced Ottawa Medical Malpractice Lawyer about your Cerebral Palsy Medical
Malpractice Case
A medical malpractice settlement such as the one mentioned above, can greatly relieve the burden on family members of an adult with cerebral palsy, especially in the realm of healthcare and home care or facility care. Aging is expensive on its own without the added burden of cerebral palsy. If you are the caregiver or guardian of a person under the age of 18 with cerebral palsy, you may have the right to sue a physician or hospital that was culpable in the birth injury that caused the condition. Adults with cerebral palsy need a lot of care. Contact an experienced Ottawa medical malpractice lawyer to see if you have a medical malpractice case that could potentially result in some much-needed financial assistance for caring for your loved one.
