Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy covers several different neurological birth injuries that are caused by a lack of oxygen in the baby’s brain. The injuries caused by hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy are lifelong, and can range from mild to severe, often requiring a huge financial commitment, as well as considerable emotional difficulties, on the family’s part.
Indicators of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
If there have been any circumstances that can cause the oxygen supply to your baby’s brain during delivery, it’s possible that they have suffered a brain injury as a result. Some circumstances that can lead to hypoxia (a partial blockage of blood and oxygen to the brain) or even anoxia (complete blockage of blood and oxygen to the brain) include:
- Delaying the decision to do a caesarean section
- Prolonged labor or too long in the birth canal
- The fetal heart rate was misread, misinterpreted, or not properly measured
- The umbilical cord is prolapsed
- The doctor or medical staff didn’t act quickly in response to any birth-related emergency
Treatment for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
The treatment for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy can be broken down into two parts: immediate and long-term. Immediate treatments would include life-saving and sustaining measures such as:
- CPR
- Intubation and ventilation
- Interventions that would control heart rate, heart function, and blood pressure
- The use of cooling blankets if lowering the metabolic process is warranted
- Medications or anesthesia for controlling seizures
The long-term treatments for these birth injuries vary a great deal, depending on severity. A few of the possibilities include:
- Surgeries
- Physical therapy
- Hospitalizations
- Occupational therapy
- Medications
- Psychosocial supports and therapies
These treatments are costly, and over time can add up to more than even a wealthy family can handle on their own. A medical malpractice attorney will help you to prove fault, and secure the considerable finances you’ll need to take care of your child.
Contacting a Boston Medical Malpractice Lawyer
When you’re having a baby, you place a lot of trust in the doctors, midwives, and nurses, and while they always try to keep you and your baby safe, mistakes get made. While your medical malpractice attorney will understand that in medical situations, doctors make tough decisions, when your child’s life and well-being are at stake, you want to be able to provide the best care possible, which requires funding.
Your Boston medical malpractice lawyer can help you acquire that funding, so that you aren’t having to pay for a doctor’s mistake. If your child has suffered hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy or another birth injury, contact our Boston medical malpractice lawyer, so we can help you help your child.