Options for Parents of Infants with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Far too many parents have had to deal with the tragedy of seeing their child hurt, or even killed, by hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. If this form of brain damage has harmed your child, you deserve support and help through this difficult time. Many parents are tempted to blame themselves, but you should know that your child's injury may be the result of medical malpractice.

Birth Injury and Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy often occurs during childbirth. Medical science is still unsure as to the exact cause of this condition. Some believe it is caused by a birth injury, such as uterine rupture in the mother, or problems with the umbilical cord.

Whatever the cause, medical practitioners need to act quickly to identify and address birth injuries. When you went into the maternity ward, you had every expectation that the medical staff would follow standard practices to ensure the safety of you and your child. If a medical professional violated this standard of care, he or she may be guilty of medical malpractice.

If your child has been born with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, he or she may face a long struggle. Statistics show that 25% of infants who survive the initial complications will still suffer neurological damage. This is a terrible strain on you and your child, and you deserve all the help that you can get.

While a child who suffered hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy can go on to lead a rich and full life, this birth injury can cause difficult problems including but not limited to:

• Blindness and/or deafness
• Mental disability
• Lung problems
• Cerebral palsy
• Seizures

Though alarming, you need to keep in mind that there are treatments for these conditions that can enable your child to find some degree of health and happiness. However, these medical treatments can be very expensive and if your child's injury is the result of negligence, you should not have to shoulder the burden of the costs of those treatments on your own.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Birth Injury

You should keep in mind that hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is not always possible to prevent. However, there are also times when it occurs due to negligence or error on the part of the attending doctor or nurse. In these cases, the legal system gives you a way to fight back against this terrible breach of trust.

If your child suffered hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy because of medical malpractice, you may want to consider filing a lawsuit. A Kentucky birth injury lawyer can help you in this effort. Should it succeed, the compensation may be quite significant and help ensure that your child gets the treatments and medical care that they will need for the rest of their lives.

Birth injuries may require long-term or even life-long medical care for your child. If you believe medical malpractice may have resulted in your child's birth injuries, contact an experienced Louisville birth injury attorney at Gray and White Law at 1-502-210-8942 or 1-800-634-8767 for advice regarding your child's Kentucky birth injury case.