Woman with Cerebral Palsy wins Bodybuilding Contest

Alana Clark, a 51-year-old woman from Bristol who suffers from cerebral palsy, recently placed first in a bodybuilding contest for disabled contestants that saw participants from 17 countries.  Anna Clark was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a young age and lost feeling in her left side at the age of 36 after she suffered a stroke.  After doctors encouraged Clark to take up swimming to build up her strength again, Clark began to exercise regularly.  Following the death of her son in a car accident, the mother of two says she was inspired to take up bodybuilding in order to honor her son who loved to exercise.

Despite still needing a cane to walk around and being in and out of the hospital, Clark was able to build up enough muscle to compete in a world championship bodybuilding contest and take home the leading prize.  In addition to honoring her son, Clark hopes her win will inspire others who are disabled to pursue their dreams.

At the Driscoll Firm, our legal team is dedicated to helping those with cerebral palsy achieve great things, just as Alana Clark did.  If you or a loved one suffers from cerebral palsy due to the negligence of a medical professional, contact our offices today at (800) 305-9800 to learn how we can assist you.


New study finds cerebral palsy diagnoses rate holding steady

A recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested that there has been no significant decrease in the number of children born with cerebral palsy.

Statistics showed that 2.2 out of 1,000 children born in 2002 were diagnosed with congenital cerebral palsy. This represents only a slight rise from the 1.9 out of 1,000 children born in 1985 who were diagnosed with the same condition. The same research also showed that no significant trends appeared when considering infants born with spastic cerebral palsy.

While the infant survival rate has improved with advances in medicine and care, the prevalence of cerebral palsy diagnoses has still not gone down. The authors of the research, including Kim Van Naarden Braun of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, wrote that “the absence of decline underscores the continued need for resources and support of children with CP and their families, as well as accelerated focus on understanding risk factors, targeting prevention strategies and reducing disparities.”

If your child suffers from cerebral palsy as a result of any medical malpractice during labor, please contact our brain injury lawyers at the Driscoll Firm today by calling (800) 900-7704 to learn how we may be able to help you pursue compensation you need to provide the care he or she needs.


Different Types of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a permanent movement disorder that begins during early childhood. It is caused by damage to or the abnormal development of the area of the brain responsible for balance, posture, and movement. Cerebral Palsy can manifest in several different ways, including:

  • Ataxic Cerebral Palsy – a person with ataxic cerebral palsy suffer from poor muscle tone and poor; people with ataxic CP may appear shaky and unsteady
  • Athetoid Cerebral Palsy – with athetoid cerebral palsy, some muscle tone may be too low and some may be too high; people with athetoid CP have a hard time staying in an upright position, and faces, arms, and the upper body can make random, involuntary gestures
  • Spastic Cerebral Palsy – a person with spastic cerebral palsy usually suffers from muscle tone that is too high, resulting in stiff and jerky movements due to the tightness of the muscle tone; people with spastic CP have difficulty in moving to and from different positions or letting go of things in their hand
  • Mixed Cerebral Palsy – occurs when the muscle tone is too low in some areas and too high in others

If you believe that your child’s cerebral palsy is the result of negligence on the part of another party, do not hesitate to discuss your case with our dedicated, experienced team at The Driscoll Firm. Call us today at (800) 900-7704.


What is spastic cerebral palsy?

Spastic cerebral palsy is a condition in which increased muscle tone causes arms and legs to stiffen or become rigid. This type of cerebral palsy is usually a result of damage to the brain’s white matter or gray matter. It limits the full potential of the involved extremities because of the inability to systematize movements. People with spastic cerebral palsy may also suffer from impaired fine and gross motor coordination, muscle weakness, fatigability, and increased deep tendon reflexes. Spastic cerebral palsy may affect the body in a variety of ways:

  • Hemiparesis – spasticity occurs on one side of the body
  • Quadriparesis – spasticity occurs in all four limbs
  • Spastic diplegia – spasticity occurs in both legs

If untreated, spastic cerebral palsy may lead to permanent limitation of joint movements.

Researchers have linked a number of causes to the occurrence of cerebral palsy; one such cause is doctor error during child birth. Infants who are injured or the victims of other forms of negligence during delivery can develop cerebral palsy that will last their entire lives. If you or your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a result of a medical professional’s negligence, contact the Driscoll Firm at (800) 900-7704 today.


Man with cerebral palsy wins case against Virgin airlines

David Mulligan, a cerebral palsy sufferer, requested to fly with his assistance dog, Willow, but his request was denied by the management of Virgin Australia. When making this request, Mulligan provided paperwork and accreditations from his doctor and a dog training association to further support his request and demonstrate his need for assistance. Unfortunately, Virgin Airlines denied and then approved his request, only to deny it once again in the end.

This forced Mulligan to take buses and trains in order to visit relatives living a long distance away, which could result in 22 total hours of travel. Eventually, his doctor reported that Mulligan was “no longer able to cope” with such long distance road and rail travel.

As a result, Mulligan brought the case to Federal Circuit Court in 2013. Now, after 5 years, Virgin has been ordered to pay him $10,000 in compensation after an appeal overturned the decisions of another judge who ruled in favor of Virgin.

 


Associative conditions of cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is caused from injuries to the brain or brain malformation during fetal development. The neurological condition impairs motor functions. Unlike other brain damage, cerebral palsy does not progress over time. However, cerebral palsy often comes with associative conditions that can worsen the original impairments by further limiting body functions.

The following list includes the most common categories of cerebral palsy conditions:

  • Primary condition: direct result of cerebral palsy, such as poor motor control and muscle tone
  • Secondary condition: result of primary conditions, such as inability to chew and breathing difficulties
  • Associative conditions: conditions not caused by the brain injury, such as hearing impairment
  • Co-mitigating factors: completely unassociated health conditions

Cerebral palsy is unique in each child. The existence of several associative conditions may worsen the primary effects of the disease, making it more difficult to live with the impairments. Without proper care, cerebral palsy can form new associative conditions that require additional medical expenses and treatment.

Living with cerebral palsy can be expensive, painful, and frustrating. If your loved one was diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to a birth injury, contact the Driscoll Firm. Our experienced medical malpractice attorneys may help you and your family pursue compensation for the pain and suffering and expenses that resulted from negligent medical staff who may have contributed to your child’s cerebral palsy. Call us today at (800) 900-7704 for more information.


Study outlines correlation between cerebral palsy and genetics

A Canadian study revealed that genetics could play a role in the development of some cases of cerebral palsy (CP), according to a report by Medical Daily on August 3.

The research, which was conducted by Sick Kids Hospital in Canada and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, involved the study of 115 children diagnosed with CP. Researchers found that 10% of children with the condition have copy number variations (CNVs), which are alterations in the structures within DNA found in less than one percent of the population.

The study calls for genomic examinations to be integrated in the practice of diagnosing CP.

The most common cause of CP is birth asphyxia, which results from the child’s deprivation of oxygen during birth. Unfortunately, birth asphyxia can occur due to poor medical practices or inexperienced medical staff. If negligence is the cause of your child’s cerebral palsy, do not delay seeking justice and compensation. The team at the Driscoll Firm may be able to help you file a case against the parties responsible. Call us at (800) 900-7704 today, and tell us more about your situation.


What are the most common causes of cerebral palsy?

Since cerebral palsy may be caused by the abnormal development of the brain or by a brain injury that occurs before, during, or immediately after birth, the disorder may potentially be attributed to a diverse range of causes, including the following:

  • Infection
  • Lack of oxygen
  • Premature birth
  • Contusion

Bearing this in mind, cerebral palsy may be directly caused by any medical professional who fails to maintain established standards of safety and procedure at any point during and after the birth of a child.

If you believe that the malpractice of a medical professional caused your child’s cerebral palsy, you should speak with one of the cerebral palsy attorneys at the Driscoll Firm to begin assessing what legal claim you might have to compensation. To speak with a member of our legal team, please call our offices at (800) 900-7704 today.


Allergan appeals multi-million dollar Botox verdict

California-based Botox maker Allergan has appealed a $6.75 million verdict in a case filed by a couple who claims Botox treatment caused their son to suffer from seizures, the Burlington Free Press reported on June 9.

The drug maker has filed their appeal to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals several weeks after a judge in Vermont backed the jury’s decision to award the damages. Lori and Kevin Drake said their son had no history of seizures prior to Botox treatments, which were recommended by a Burlington doctor in 2010 and 2012 to treat their son’s cerebral palsy leg spasms. The couple claims the drug company failed to fully orient the doctor about the Botox treatment’s health risks.

The couple added that the treatment was off-label, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has never approved Botox for treatment of muscle spasm in kids.

Errors in cerebral palsy treatment may aggravate your loved one’s medical condition, and may even cause serious, even life-threatening medical complications. If you believe your loved one’s condition was caused by medical negligence, our legal team at the Driscoll Firm might be able to help you file a lawsuit against the party involved. Call us at (800) 900-7704 to learn more about your legal options.


How cerebral palsy is classified

Classifying the type and severity of cerebral palsy (CP) is important to providing the patient the best quality of life possible for his or her condition. For parents, CP categories enable them to understand the medical needs of their child, while school administrators are able to comprehensively grasp the child’s learning abilities.

There are a variety of ways that CP is grouped. Here are a few of them:

  • Severity – A child’s CP can be categorized into mild, moderate, severe, or no CP (CP was acquired after the brain’s development was completed, therefore is instead classified under the circumstances that caused it- such as traumatic brain injury)
  • Topographical distribution – CP is grouped based on the affected areas of the body. Paraplegia, for instance, is a type of cerebral palsy that affects both legs
  • Motor function – CP is categorized based on how the condition affects the body’s motor function

If you believe your child’s CP has resulted from medical malpractice, the legal team at the Driscoll Firm might be able to help you seek the compensation your family needs. Call us at (800) 900-7704 for a free assessment of your case.


Next Page »

Free Evaluation

No fees until you collect. Complete the form below to receive a free evaluation.

Se Habla Espanol