The Lifetime Cost of Cerebral Palsy
Because cerebral palsy is permanent and care often requires constant attention and assistance, the costs of the condition are very high. The CDC notes that the lifetime cost of cerebral palsy is close to $1 million, at an estimated $921,000.
The medical costs for care and treatment of children with the condition are 10 times higher than for children without it.
The CDC estimates that direct and indirect costs for all people with cerebral palsy will total $11.5 billion just for those born in 2000, over their lifetimes.
Cerebral Palsy: An Overview
Cerebral palsy is an overarching term for a number of disorders having to do with the brain being unable to control muscles. The condition is a physical disability that can have an impact on a patient’s ability to move, the ways in which they move, and their posture.According to the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC), cerebral palsy is the most commonly suffered motor disability in childhood, with a global prevalence of 1.5 to over 4 per 1,000 births.
Cerebral palsy arises from damage to brain development. This can occur either when the mother is pregnant, during the birth process, or shortly after birth. Low birth weight, infection, and interruptions of the supply of blood and oxygen to the baby’s brain are all potential causes.
The condition can manifest in multiple ways. It can affect muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflexes, and balance as well as movement and coordination. In addition, people with cerebral palsy may have other impairments, including epilepsy, autism, or visual, hearing, speech or hearing deficits.
Unfortunately, cerebral palsy is permanent and there is no cure.
Contact a Birth Injury Lawyer in Southern California
Cerebral palsy is a serious condition that can, in some cases, be caused by medical malpractice during birth. If you have a child diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Ellis Injury Law can review the circumstances of your child’s birth to see if there are grounds for a claim. We have more than two decades of experience in getting parents and children the justice and help they deserve.
Contact a Los Angeles birth injury attorney today at 310-641-3335 for a consultation at no cost to you.
Additional “Cerebral Palsy Cost” Resources:
- Cerebral Palsy Alliance. What Is Cerebral Palsy? https://www.cerebralpalsy.org.au/what-is-cerebral-palsy/
- United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cerebral Palsy Homepage. Data & Statistics for Cerebral Palsy. https://www.cerebralpalsy.org.au/what-is-cerebral-palsy/