A critical time in a baby’s birth is changing from getting blood and oxygen through the umbilical cord to the lungs. When the brain cannot get enough blood or oxygen, it creates a condition called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). This kills many babies and can leave survivors with lasting brain damage.
Sometimes HIE is preventable, but a mistake or negligence lets it happen to your child. If that happens, you could be eligible for compensation. Find out by speaking with one of our hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy attorneys in Phoenix, AZ, from Birth Injury Lawyers Group.
For a free legal consultation, call 1-800-222-9529
More About Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
HIE damages the brain in many ways, and the full extent of the injuries may not become apparent until later. When the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen or blood, the cells start to die and break down. Some substances created during cell death harm other cells, creating a chain reaction of brain damage.
One way to interrupt this process is therapeutic hypothermia, but not all hospitals have the equipment. Plus, if the signs of HIE get missed by your medical team, it may be too late to use. They must do the procedure within a few hours of the damage.
After the brain gets damaged, there is no cure for HIE. Therapy can improve a child’s symptoms and ability to function, but they will never be completely back to how they were before their brain lost blood and oxygen.
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Causes of HIE that Could Lead to a Malpractice Case
Many causes of HIE could be the basis of a malpractice lawsuit. Here are some examples:
- Umbilical Cord Complications – Any compression or problem with the umbilical cord before your baby switches to lung breathing can cut blood and oxygen to their brain.
- Placental and Uterine complications – The placenta and uterus also have roles to play in delivering blood and oxygen to a baby. Conditions like placental abruption, uterine rupture, or placental insufficiency can cause HIE.
- Improper Monitoring of the Fetus – Fetal distress can be the first sign that HIE is happening. If caught early, doctors can do things to restore the oxygen supply, including giving an emergency C-section. However, if they weren’t monitoring as they should, that’s negligence.
- Prolonged Labor – Longer labor compresses the placenta and umbilical cord, and some birth conditions create longer labor times. Doctors should intervene.
- Premature Birth – A premature baby’s lungs may not be developed enough to bring in enough air. Doctors must watch for this and give them oxygen to prevent HIE.
- Post-birth Problems – Certain post-birth conditions like jaundice or hypoglycemia can affect blood and oxygen flow to the brain and cause HIE. They must catch and manage these before they can cause brain damage.
These are only a few of the potential causes. Finding the cause of your baby’s HIE is one of your lawyer’s first tasks. When the cause is found, they can know if your case qualifies as a malpractice suit and who needs to be sued.
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How Else Does a Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Lawyer Help Me?
When you choose an injury lawyer, you need to have one that has experience working cases involving that injury. Our birth injury lawyers have experience with HIE cases and know how difficult they can be for parents and children.
Paying for all the costs of caring for a child with HIE is extremely expensive. Even well-off families can have their savings wiped out. However, a malpractice lawsuit can help pay for these costs.
If we believe you have a case, our Phoenix hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy lawyers will seek every potential route to compensation possible. There may be multiple negligent parties, and the range of damages you can get paid for may be much larger than you think.
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How Long Will My Case Take?
It’s impossible to gauge exactly how long a case will take. It depends on many factors, like how strong the evidence is, how the defendants respond, and whether you go to trial. The sooner you start, the sooner you can start the fight for compensation.
Birth Injury Lawyers Group will make every effort to make your case as speedily as possible while getting you the most money possible. Along the journey, we will keep you informed about the status of your case and what the upcoming steps will be.
Many cases never go to trial. Instead, both sides come to an agreement about how much the case is worth and settle out of court. However, a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy case may be worth so much that an insurer will try to push the matter to court.
Can I Afford Legal Counsel?
All of our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing for your consultation and nothing to us throughout the legal process until you win compensation. If you lose your case completely, you will owe us nothing.
We will discuss our contingency fee percentages if we believe your case is valid. The percentage changes depending on how complex your case is, whether you go to trial, and other factors. Understanding how much you’d be charged before you sign with a lawyer is important.
Lawyers are required by ethical rules to only charge a reasonable percentage. If you feel like the lawyer we refer you to isn’t for you, please call us back, and we’ll find another HIE attorney in Phoenix who can help you.
Get Compensation for Your Child’s HIE
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is an incredibly damaging condition with unpredictable side effects. Just a few moments of it can destroy a baby’s life. So many cases of HIE could be prevented if doctors took more care. We can help you hold your doctors accountable.
Our HIE attorneys in Phoenix are ready to help you. Call the Birth Injury Lawyers Group today for a free case evaluation and consultation. You owe it to yourself and your family to know all of your legal options. Call today and get justice for your baby.
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