Health Law

AHRQ Releases Birth Injury Data

Posted on June 27, 2009
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently released new data on the rate of birth injury in the United States and found that overall the numbers are declining. However, there were still almost 158,000 preventable injuries to mothers and their newborns in 2006 (the most recent year data was available)...

Mental Health and the Cerebral Palsy Child

Posted on June 26, 2009
Nearly 14 percent of children in America have some kind of special health care needs, including those who are affected by cerebral palsy. Though it is not often talked about, kids with cerebral palsy symptoms and other special needs sometimes suffer from mental health problems in addition to their physical impairments...

RESNA Annual Conference This Week!

Posted on June 25, 2009
From June 23rd through the 27th in New Orleans, RESNA (the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America) will be holding its annual conference. The conference is open to anyone interested in issues related to assistive technology (AT) and disability, and it's a great opportunity for parents of cerebral palsy children to learn more about the latest advances in this field...

Conference Report Details Developments in CP Care

Posted on June 24, 2009
Healthcare options for children and adults with cerebral palsy are always evolving, and a new report details some more recent developments. The report, which primarily focuses on the use of orthotics (devices intended to support or correct musculoskeletal deformities), is a helpful resource for parents and others looking into cerebral palsy health services...

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5 Tips for Advocating for Your Cerebral Palsy Child

Posted on June 22, 2009
You don't have to feel helpless if you are the parent of a cerebral palsy child. You are your child's greatest advocate and though it may not always seem to be the case, your voice does matter. Below are five tips on how to be the most effective advocate for your child:   1...

Honda Introduces Mobility Devices

Posted on June 19, 2009
In April, Honda introduced two walking devices designed to assist people with weakened leg muscles and other mobility challenges. Though the devices are still in the testing phase, they seem to hold promise for individuals whose mobility is impaired by cerebral palsy symptoms...

Exceptional Parent Magazine Goes Digital

Posted on June 17, 2009
Exceptional Parent (EP) magazine is a great resource for parents of children with cerebral palsy or other special needs, and it's even better now that it's gone digital. The first issue is complimentary and is now available online. Though a limited number of hardcopy magazines will still be printed, the online version features some special benefits including:   Streaming audio/video Virtual page-turning, so it's like flipping through a hardcopy magazine Bookmarking capabilities High quality images with zoom function No download wait times Keyword search User interface customization Earth friendly The inaugural issue contains articles sports, disability living, travel and much more...

Disability Progress in the White House

Posted on June 16, 2009
It has been several months since President Barack Obama took office, and there have been a number of changes in disability policy since that time. Perhaps one of the most significant changes has been the repeal of Bush Administration restrictions on stem cell research...

Improving Cerebral Palsy Symptoms with Lokomat Therapy

Posted on June 15, 2009
Intensive locomotion therapy is a relatively new area of research in treating cerebral palsy symptoms in children, and clinical studies involving the Pediatric Lokomat® have so far shown positive results.   What is the Pediatric Lokomat?   The Pediatric Lokomat is essentially a robotic treadmill training device...

Social Networking Site for Cerebral Palsy Community Launched

Posted on June 12, 2009
Social networking – everybody's doing it, and there are numerous outlets for individuals to make meaningful connections. Among the more common social networking sites are Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. But now there is a site specifically dedicated to those whose lives are in some way impacted by cerebral palsy, and it's aptly called Cerebral Palsy Social...

Looking for a Cerebral Palsy Doctor?

Posted on June 09, 2009
Sometimes one of the greatest challenges of caring for a special needs child is finding the right team of medical professionals. However, there are a number of resources available to help parents of cerebral palsy children find the right doctors for their special needs...

$4 Million Awarded in Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit

Posted on June 08, 2009
Last week, a Frederick County jury found two doctors responsible for Ryan Dineen's cerebral palsy and awarded the boy and his mother, Suzette Dineen, $4 million in damages. The award is thought to be the highest awarded for medical malpractice in the county...

The Need for Long-term Care Reform

Posted on June 07, 2009
Last month, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services wrote a Letter to the Editor entitled 'Taking Care of Our Caregivers.' The letter appeared in the Washington Post and addressed the current challenge facing the caregiving community and those they serve...

Summer is the Perfect Time for Aquatic Therapy

Posted on June 05, 2009
Now that the weather is warming up, it's the perfect time to think about aquatic therapy. There are many benefits to aquatic therapy for people of all ages and abilities, but it is particularly beneficial for helping children manage their cerebral palsy symptoms in a fun and active way...

Disability Association Encouraged by Sotomayor Nomination

Posted on June 02, 2009
The recent nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court has been met with some optimism by the disability community, which has long lacked a consistent advocate for their right in the nation's highest court. In a statement by the American Association of People with Disabilities, President and CEO Andrew J...

Taking Care of Incarcerated Moms & Their Newborns

Posted on June 01, 2009
An issue that doesn't receive a lot of attention in the medical and legal communities (but should) is the treatment of women who are incarcerated while pregnant. Proper care of these women during their pregnancy and delivery is crucial to the health of both the mother and her newborn child...

Robot Therapy Shows Promise for Improving CP Symptoms

Posted on May 30, 2009
Engineers at MIT are finding that robot-based therapy can aid limb movement in children affected by cerebral palsy symptoms. Previous research has focused on how robotics can assist adults who have suffered stroke, but scientist Hermano Igo Krebs and colleagues wanted to test the therapy on children, whose brains are more impressionable...

Babies Can Have Strokes Too

Posted on May 26, 2009
May is National Stroke Awareness Month and this is a perfect time to learn more about the risk of stroke in children and babies. According to the National Stroke Association, strokes in kids are rare (3 cases per 100,000 children each year) but are slightly more common in children under 2...

Negligent Doctor Tries to Blame Parents

Posted on May 24, 2009
In the early 1980s, Dr. Peter Rosi was criminally prosecuted in Alaska on felony charges of negligent homicide. The case involved the death of a newborn he delivered who had failed to receive the medical attention he needed in a timely manner. Though acquitted, Rosi was found by the State Medical Board to have shown 'professional incompetence' and to have 'committed a serious error in judgment...

Erb's Palsy vs. Cerebral Palsy

Posted on May 22, 2009
Palsy is a term that generally refers to paralysis of some sort. There are several different types of palsy, two of which are sometimes caused by medical malpractice. These two types of palsy are cerebral palsy and Erb's palsy. What is cerebral palsy? Thousands of babies are born each year with cerebral palsy, which is actually not a single condition but rather a group of disorders that affect muscle movement and coordination...

No Barriers Festival Next Month!

Posted on May 20, 2009
From June 4th through June 7th, people from all across the country will converge on Miami, Florida to participate in the No Barriers Festival – an event that seeks to inspire individuals to overcome their personal challenges. Who's Invited? Everyone is welcome to participate in the festival...

Ob-Gyn Group Addresses Patient Safety

Posted on May 16, 2009
Medical errors made during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and post-natal care can cause brain damage to the infant and lifelong conditions like cerebral palsy. However, the medical community has been slow to make changes toward reducing the potential for mistakes...

Special Park for Special Kids to Open This Fall

Posted on May 14, 2009
All children need and deserve to play, but this is not always easy for the special needs child. Children with cerebral palsy and similar disabilities often feel like outsiders, watching other kids play but not being able to participate themselves. However, a new park seeks to change this dynamic...

Folic Acid Cuts Risk of Premature Birth

Posted on May 14, 2009
Folic acid has long been known to cut the risk of brain and spinal cord defects when taken as a supplement during pregnancy. Now it's also being linked to a significantly reduced risk of premature delivery. Premature birth is one of the greatest risk factors for conditions such as cerebral palsy and mental retardation...

Does Your Child's Brace Fit Properly?

Posted on May 13, 2009
Ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) are types of braces commonly used to treat certain cerebral palsy symptoms – for instance, AFOs may be used to support weak limbs or they may be used to hold contracted muscles in a normal position. Fit is everything when it comes to AFOs...

Education News for the Cerebral Palsy Community

Posted on May 08, 2009
It's that time of year when parents are looking at education opportunities, alternatives and colleges for their cerebral palsy child. Education for the disability community has been in the news quite a bit recently, and we've come across a few articles we'd like to share...

University of New Hampshire to Keep Therapeutic Riding Program Open

Posted on May 07, 2009
Just days after announcing the closing of a therapeutic horse riding program at the University of New Hampshire that serves children affected by cerebral palsy and other disabilities, the dean of the school's College of Life Sciences and Agriculture said the program would remain open pending further review...

Cerebral Palsy Symptom Eased with Deep Brain Stimulation

Posted on May 06, 2009
Deep brain stimulation appears to ease a common cerebral palsy symptom in young patients, according to a small-scale analysis of patients treated at Cook Children's Hospital in Texas. The symptom, known as dystonia, is characterized by uncontrollable and sometimes painful muscle contractions...

Planning a Vacation with Your Cerebral Palsy Child

Posted on May 04, 2009
With summer on the horizon, many families are planning for a vacation. For families with a cerebral palsy child, there are special considerations that need to be made. Below are some things you should consider when planning your trip: Special hotel or air travel accommodations – For instance, if your child is in a wheelchair, you'll probably want a room on the first floor of a hotel...

Botox Warning Issued for Treating CP Symptoms in Children

Posted on May 02, 2009
Food and Drug Administration officials are warning about potentially fatal side effects associated with the use of Botox for treating muscle spasticity, particularly in children with this cerebral palsy symptom. Children with spastic cerebral palsy are sometimes treated with Botox, though the drug is not approved in the U...

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