Glossary of Medical Malpractice Law Terms

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Seizures: A person having a seizure may abruptly "freeze," fall and shake violently or simply fall down. Seizures affect about half of all people with cerebral palsy but are usually not harmful.

Serentil: An antipsychotic drug for schizophrenics. Serentil® has been associated with other drugs that may cause cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death.

Serzone: A prescription medication used to treat depression. Cases of life-threatening liver failure have been reported in patients treated with Serzone. This medication has been related to liver dysfunction.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A form of cerebral palsy that causes tightness in the muscles. Because of this tightness, spastic cerebral palsy patients have a difficult time controlling their movement.

Speech therapy: Therapy used to increase communication skills. It may also include teaching sign language or using a communication device.

Stipulation: An agreement, admission or concession made in a judicial proceeding by the parties or their attorneys, thus relieving a party of its obligation to produce evidence in support of an argument or allegation.

Subpoena: A legal document issued by the court ordering a person to appear as specified and give testimony and/or produce evidence.

Subrogation: A process by which a third party is put in the place of a creditor so that the rights and securities of the creditor pass to that third person.