Families adjusting to life after the birth of a child with cerebral palsy have a long path ahead. Their child may require a lifetime of increased medical interventions. They may need to make modifications to the family home and vehicle.
Additionally, they may need to arrange for around-the-clock support for the child with cerebral palsy. Although some families may seek out professional caregivers, medically fragile children are at especially high risk of caregiver neglect and abuse.
Families may choose to sidestep that risk by having a parent stay home to provide care for the child. Such arrangements can be beneficial, but they do come with a cost.
Caregivers make major sacrifices
No matter how much a parent loves their child, providing around-the-clock support for a medically fragile child is challenging. It can also impact an adult’s future prospects. The parent staying home may have a harder time getting back to work once their child is old enough to go to school and no longer requires constant support in the home.
In cases where families intend to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit because the mistakes of health care professionals caused the cerebral palsy, lost wages are an important consideration. The parent who stays home may also need to consider lost earning potential, as their years out of the workforce may ultimately diminish their maximum earning potential and career development. The cost of counseling and mental health support is also a factor.
Those hoping to seek justice after a preventable birth injury often need help building a case and quantifying their losses. Working with an attorney familiar with complex medical malpractice cases can help families as they demand justice.