Doctors treat cases of HIE immediately after birth through a variety of interventions including lowering the baby’s body temperature for up to three days to minimize the severity of the damage by controlling inflammation.
Depending on the severity of the HIE, a child diagnosed with mild hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy may have no noticeable long-term health impacts. Moderate to severe HIE can cause developmental delays, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or cognitive impairment. Babies diagnosed with severe HIE may have breathing problems that lead to death or they may go on to experience cerebral palsy and severe cognitive impairment and intellectual disability.
When a child’s HIE was preventable if only the medical providers had identified and promptly addressed the problem during the labor process, parents may seek compensation for damages with help from a Louisville medical malpractice lawyer. Damages in these cases can include:
Medical costs
Special education costs
Lost wages when a parent must leave a job to care for a disabled child
Grief, anguish, and emotional trauma
There are many resources for parents of children diagnosed with HIE, including the HIE Help Center.