BIRTH INJURY LAWYERS
BIRTH INJURY TREATMENT
Treatment for common birth related injuries
In some cases, the treatment
of birth injuries can be both a long term process and a heavy
financial responsibility. This is because emergency surgeries,
long term treatment and care, medication needs, physical
therapy, special education, speech therapy and many other
expenses are usually needed to help the child adapt and function
in the world.
Unfortunately, some of these
children injured at birth are never going to adapt fully and are
going to always need someone to look after their security,
physical needs and financial needs to the point that providing
all of these things may become a drain on the family’s
finances. Moreover, experiencing and dealing with this kind of
family tragedy can also be very stressful and emotionally
destructive. That is why if you think or if you know that the
birth injury of your child is caused or may be caused by medical
malpractice; don’t hesitate to ask for the help and assistance
of a birth injury lawyer to help you get through this stage both
emotionally and financially.
One of the most common and
permanent case of birth injuries is cerebral palsy. A cure is
yet to be found for this condition but several options are
available for the parents and the child to help them cope with
or manage the birth injury suffered. It is always better to
start the treatments early on for the child to have a better
chance of overcoming his or her developmental disabilities.
Because there are different
types of cerebral palsy, there are also different ways of
treating it. Usually, a team of medical or health professionals
will be called in to work with the child upon determining the
specific impairments and needs of the child. The treatment of
the child will then depend on a long term plan that aims to
tackle the most pressing disabilities that the child needs to
overcome or adapt to in order to function.
The health professional team
will then include a physical and occupational therapist who will
aim to improve the child’s ability to make everyday physical
activities and motions such as walking, running, climbing up the
stairs, etc. The therapist will also help stretch the spastic
muscles of the child as well as help prevent any muscular
deformities from developing.
Other health professionals
that will be included in the team are a speech therapist that
will be treating any swallowing disorder, speech impediments and
other obstacles to communication and a counseling and behavioral
therapist to help the child overcome any behavioral, emotional
and psychological obstacles along the way.
Of course, a child suffering
from birth injuries will also require extensive and costly
medications to help the child with any pains, muscle problems
and seizures. The child may also need to undergo some periodic
surgeries to correct any abnormalities or structural problems.
The child may also need to use orthotic or mechanical devices or
aids such as braces, wheelchair or walkers to compensate or help
in the mobility of the child. On some cases, the child may even
need speech or other devices to help him or her talk or hear.
Another common birth injury
that could either be temporary or permanent is shoulder dystocia.
This occur when a baby is too large to fit into the mother’s
pelvic opening during delivery thus temporarily or permanently
injuring the nerves in a baby’s neck. The injury in the neck is
most commonly located in the brachial plexus which is
responsible for the physical control of the arms or the hands.
Treatment of this kind of birth injury consists of physical and
occupational therapy. The disability however in some cases
cannot be cured and thus is permanent. Physical or occupational
therapy in this case may give the child some semblance of
control over his or her upper extremities but never full control
or function.
Permanent Birth Injuries
In cases of permanent birth
injuries, the involved health professionals will employ
evaluation tests in order to determine the extent of the child’s
disability. They will then create a care and development plan
based on the results of the exam and refer the child to a
treatment center. Most of the treatment however is done at home
and starts after the child is released from the treatment
center. That is why family support is a very important factor
in helping the child cope with his birth injury.
Other common birth injuries
like facial bruising, bleeding in the scalp or body, broken
bones or fractures, etc. are almost always temporary and needs
temporary treatment only. The above mentioned cases however
require long term plans and lifelong emotional and financial
adjustments for both the family and the child.
Whatever the case may be,
consulting a birth injury lawyer will be a great help to
families undergoing this crisis. Not only will the birth injury
lawyer be able to give you some advice or refer you to some
other people who can help you cope with the problem, he will
also be able to give you some options that will alleviate or
help you overcome the difficulties of coping with the birth
injury of your child.
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