A child is born with cerebral palsy. From birth he has trouble with motor function, vision, and speech. As an adult he gets and keeps a physically demanding job as a commercial fisherman. He has a 20-year career. He has a wife and children, and he participates actively in his community until he loses control of fine motor function in one of his hands. A few months later he suddenly notices he is going blind. A physician diagnoses optic neuritis, and a magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the brain shows that he likely has developed multiple sclerosis. At this point he should:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Although the man described in this question has two neurological diseases (cerebral palsy followed by multiple sclerosis), he is not terminally ill, and he should consider treatment options for his new illness with his neurologist. Multiple sclerosis often follows an indolent course. His prognosis may be good for many years, and perhaps for decades. The other options outlined in this question might be more appropriate for someone with an incurable illness.

A Child Is Born with Cerebral Palsy