Now entering its second year, World Cerebral Palsy Day is starting to make a big impact. Falling this year on the 2nd October, World Cerebral Palsy Day is both a day of awareness, highlighting the condition and the people who have it, and a global innovation project.
Run by a group of non-profit cerebral palsy charities, the project gathers innovative ideas from around the world that will improve the lives of people with the condition. Hundreds of ideas are submitted throughout the year, and the best are made into a reality.
There are 17 million people living with cerebral palsy worldwide, with a further 350 million people who are connected to them – as friends, loved ones and families – and whose lives are affected by cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a brain injury which affects movement and muscle control, and is the most common childhood disability occurring usually during pregnancy, birth or in the early years. Unfortunately, in some cases, cerebral palsy is caused by negligent failings in medical treatment, including:
- Delay in delivery which starves the baby of oxygen
- Incorrect reading of the baby’s heart rate (CTG) and failing to realise that the baby is distressed
- Failure to perform a Caesarean section sufficiently quickly
- Inappropriate use of forceps
- Failure to diagnose or treat jaundice
- Delay in diagnosis of a medical condition such as meningitis
For those who have experienced a failure in treatment which amounts to medical negligence, it is possible to claim financial compensation in order to pay for any specialist treatment, care, appropriate housing, equipment and schooling. The costs of providing for an individual with cerebral palsy can be very considerable, and at Field Fisher Waterhouse, a highly specialist and experienced medical negligence firm with a wealth of expertise in dealing with claims arising from cerebral palsy, we regularly secure multi-million pound pay outs.
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, and can affect individuals in many ways. There is no cure, but treatment, care, and therapy can help individuals deal with the impact.
World Cerebral Palsy Day was only recently set up, in 2012, but it has the potential to make big changes in the lives of those with the condition, as well as their friends, families and loved ones.
Paul McNeil, Head of Medical Negligence & Personal Injury, had this to say:
“The importance of World Cerebral Palsy day can’t be understated and should be given more recognition in the UK. The day aims to raise awareness of the condition by educating people and by bringing together some of the most prolific researchers in the field.
Field Fisher Waterhouse will continue to be committed to achieving the best possible financial compensation for people with cerebral palsy, so they can live life to their fullest potential.”
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