Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

HIE Attorneys Serving Clients across the U.S.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, occurs when an infant’s oxygen supply is cut off and/or blood flow is limited during delivery, resulting in brain damage. HIE, also known as birth asphyxia, is not always noticeable right away; as brain cells begin to die, a chain reaction occurs, leading to additional cells dying over a period of a few hours or days. Furthermore, doctors may not realize that a child has suffered a brain injury in the immediate aftermath of a difficult delivery, causing them to fail to begin crucial treatment right away. Parents may not even realize that their child has suffered an injury until he or she begins to show signs of developmental delays, leading to a delayed HIE diagnosis.

If you believe your child may have suffered a brain injury, such as HIE, due to a doctor’s negligent conduct during labor or delivery, contact LawMD. We have attorneys on staff who are also doctors, meaning we have a rich, in-depth understanding of both the legal and medical aspects of your situation. Our legal team is here to answer your questions and address your concerns as we help you assert your right to a fair recovery. While no financial recovery can ever “compensate” for the injuries your child has suffered, rightful compensation can allow you to provide your child with a better quality of life moving forward.

Contact us online or by phone for a free consultation with nationwide hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy lawyers.

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How Does HIE Occur?

In the most basic sense, HIE occurs when a baby’s oxygen supply and/or blood flow is reduced or cut off. There are many ways in which this can happen.

Some relatively common causes of HIE include:

Failure to monitor/respond to signs of fetal distress during labor/delivery
Failure to order an emergency C-section
Prolonged labor
Premature birth
Problems with the umbilical cord (such as compression)
Placental abruption or placental previa
Uterine rupture
Infections
Medication errors (primarily with medications used to induce labor)
Mismanagement of maternal complications, such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes
Failure to properly treat jaundice and other neonatal conditions

While HIE is not always the result of a doctor’s mistake, medical negligence does play a large role in HIE diagnoses. HIE is treatable, most often with therapeutic hypothermia, in which the infant’s body/brain is cooled down in order to stop the spread of dying cells. While this can be an effective treatment, it must be carried out promptly after the baby is born, typically within 24 hours of birth.

What to Do If You Believe Your Baby Has Suffered HIE

If you notice symptoms of HIE, such as issues breathing or eating, seizures, lack of normal reflexes, lack of alertness, or unusual muscle tone (both low and high), you should first seek medical attention. A doctor can provide testing and a proper diagnosis, as well as potential treatment or HIE management recommendations. If your child receives an HIE diagnosis and you believe a doctor or another medical professional is at fault, contact LawMD for a free and confidential consultation. Our attorneys can help you determine your legal options and pursue the justice you, your child, and your family deserve.

Why you may benefit from a doctor in your courtroom

WE UNDERSTAND YOUR INJURIES, BECAUSE WE’VE LIKELY TREATED THEM.

Most of our physician-attorneys are either current or past treating doctors in, collectively, a wide range of medical specialties. There is a good chance one or more of our physician attorneys have actually treated medical conditions similar to the ones from which you or your loved one now suffers. That translates into care and understanding as your Counselors, and know-how as your Advocates.

TIME- AND COST-SAVINGS FOR YOUR CASE

Any honest medical malpractice attorney will tell you that one of the greatest expenses in a medical malpractice case is having to pay physician experts to study the details of the medical issues in your case and, if necessary, provide testimony at deposition and trial. While even our physician attorneys may also need to hire outside medical experts for your case, our medical know-how allows us to perform a significant amount of the medical analysis necessary for your case in-house which may translate into significant savings at the conclusion of your case.

RAPID RESPONSE WITH SOLID ANSWERS TO YOUR SERIOUS QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR CASE

Because we have in-house medical know-how, we can evaluate the medical questions in your case and provide answers without a lengthy wait. Our internal process involves getting the issues in your case quickly in front of the right physician attorney who, based on his or her medical experience and training, is most likely to have the answers you seek about whether you have a case and how we might help you get the compensation you deserve to help secure a brighter future for you and for your loved ones.

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Why you may benefit from a doctor in your courtroom. We understand your injuries, because we’ve likely treated them.

Time and cost-savings for your case.

Rapid Response with solid answers to your serious questions regarding your case.

Call 833-MY-LAWMD