Cerebral Palsy Costs
New research from Australia highlights the high societal costs that can be caused by cerebral palsy, including costs of treatments, lost well-being and premature deaths. In some cases cerebral palsy is caused by a medical mistake at the time of birth, which could have been prevented with the exercise of proper standards of medical care.
>>INFORMATION: Cerebral Palsy Malpractice Lawsuits
According to the Access Economics Report, which was commissioned by Cerebral Palsy Australia, the cost of caring for people with cerebral palsy in Australia is approximately $2.4 billion annually, which is the equivalent to $2.1 billion U.S. Dollars. There are 33,800 Australians known to be living with cerebral palsy, and experts estimate that one child is born with the condition every eighteen hours in the country. The report estimated the cost of cerebral palsy by computing the financial cost of treatments, disability and premature death.
Cerebral palsy is a disorder of the nervous system, which is caused by damage to the brain which occurs before, during or immediately after birth. It impacts muscle control and coordination, and the effects of cerebral palsy can vary from mild problems with movements to severe paralysis and inability to control the body’s movement.
Individuals with cerebral palsy often have difficulty with basic activities, such as walking and talking, and about one in four experience seizures. Other complications that often accompany cerebral palsy are mental retardation, learning disabilities and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
This week was Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week in Australia, running from August 3, 2008 to August 9, 2008. The campaign was designed to raise public awareness about cerebral palsy in the country, with educational seminars and speeches highlighting the services provided by Cerebral Palsy Australia.
In the United States, estimates suggest that about 2 or 3 out of every 1,000 children have cerebral palsy. About 5,000 infants and toddlers and 1,200 to 1,500 preschoolers, are diagnosed with cerebral palsy each year. There are approximately 500,000 people in this country have some degree of cerebral palsy.
CEREBRAL PALSY MALPRACTICE LAWYERS
The medical malpractice lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent families of children with cerebral palsy throughout the United States. When cerebral palsy is caused by a medical mistake at birth that could have been prevented, the costs of a lifetime of care and disability should not fall on the family. If your family member or loved one has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, review the legal rights which may be available by requesting a free consultation and claim evaluation.
