Experienced and Caring Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Lawyers
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Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), also known as birth asphyxia, is among the most common types of brain injury a baby can suffer at birth. HIE results from a lack of adequate blood flow and oxygen to the brain. It can occur during delivery or shortly after a baby is born. Medical professionals can often prevent HIE with appropriate procedures and by staying alert for signs of distress.
However, when they fail to remain vigilant the baby and family can pay an unimaginable price, often with catastrophic lifetime consequences. Hiring a brain injury law firm like Janet, Janet & Suggs, and working with a hypoxic Ischemic encephalopathy lawyer can help you hold the responsible party accountable.
Call 1-877-692-3862 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form.
Our Dedicated Birth Injury Division
Janet, Janet & Suggs (JJS) has been maximizing compensation for clients in need for over 40 years in medical malpractice and other serious cases. We’ve won hard-fought battles in virtually every kind of catastrophic medical malpractice injury case you can imagine, recovering hundreds of millions in compensation for our medical malpractice clients from some of the country’s toughest defendants, including the US government.
Nationally recognized for our work in handling significant birth injury cases throughout the country, partners Howard Janet, Kenneth Suggs, Gerald Jowers, and Patrick Thronson are committed to uncovering malpractice and fighting for maximum compensation for our clients. Our team also includes a board-certified OBGYN, attorney Giles Manley, M.D., who has more than 30 years of experience in the medical profession, during which time he delivered thousands of newborns. His vast medical knowledge makes him an ideal advocate for those who have been harmed at birth.
Howard Janet
Kenneth Suggs
Gerald Jowers
Patrick Thronson
Giles Manley, M.D.
What to Know About Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Cases
HIE due to insufficient oxygen (hypoxia) or blood flow (ischemia) is a leading cause of serious impairments or death among newborns. While an infant's body can compensate for short periods of oxygen deprivation, if left untreated those periods can eventually destroy brain tissue and result in injuries such as cognitive impairments, neurodevelopmental delays, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy.
When Can Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Happen?
HIE can occur in both full-term and premature births. The timing of HIE, its severity, and the part of the brain it affects all have a bearing on symptoms the child may experience.
What Are the Causes and Risk Factors?
The length and severity of hypoxia and ischemia affect whether HIE occurs and how serious it is. Events that can lead to this deprivation can include:
- Medical negligence
- Prolapsed cord
- Stress of labor and delivery
- Trauma
- Uterine rupture
Fetal stroke can also increase the likelihood of HIE. Factors that can possibly lead to fetal stroke include:
- Abnormal blood-clotting
- Blocked placenta blood flow
- Maternal infection
- Maternal low or high blood pressure
- Weakened or malformed blood vessels that might rupture
How Is PA_Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Diagnosed?
HIE needs to be identified before it can be addressed and diagnosed. Medical professionals may suspect HIE if the birth was traumatic. Otherwise, it's up to parents, other physicians, and caretakers to notice visible signs—including impaired motor function and delayed growth or developmental milestones—over time.
Neuroimaging techniques like MRIs, MR spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted imaging can all help in diagnosing HIE. Once cognitive development has been accurately assessed, medical professionals can diagnose a severity level of mild, moderate, or severe.
How Can Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Be Treated?
Treatments for HIE focus on helping the child and family adapt to symptoms resulting from the brain injury. Occupational and physical therapies are routinely used to treat conditions like cerebral palsy resulting from HIE.
HIE usually results in permanent damage. This damage can sometimes continue to progress even once the hypoxia has been addressed. To prevent additional damage, the baby should be monitored to:
- Control or prevent seizures
- Maintain normal blood glucose levels
- Maintain normal blood pressure
- Minimize or prevent cerebral edema
How Can Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Be Prevented?
Medical professionals should convey to expecting parents a critical awareness of risk factors that can contribute to HIE complications, as well as the importance of good health and proper prenatal care. In most cases, however, the cause of HIE can be traced to medical staff missing, mismanagement, or causing a health issue or dangerous situation. It is the responsibility of healthcare providers to practice preventive measures to help minimize the chances of the occurrence of hypoxia and ischemia during pregnancy, labor, and delivery.
The following outlines precautions medical professionals must adhere to when it comes to preventing the onset of HIE in newborns:
- Medical providers who participate in the labor and delivery process must be able to provide proof of evidence that they are adequately qualified to monitor pregnancy and birth.
- The hospital must ensure certified, qualified, and adequately trained medical professionals, like anesthesiologists and obstetricians, perform the delivery.
- Electronic fetal monitoring must be effectively implemented and displayed throughout delivery.
- Hospital staff must acquiesce to personal preferences and adhere to specific medical advice upon the arrival of a person in labor at the hospital, especially if your doctor isn't available.
- Patient rights, including your right to request personal medical records, your right not to be rushed into making difficult decisions when not necessary, and especially your right to have a second opinion must be made explicitly available.
How a Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Lawyer Can Help with Your Case
Caring for your child with HIE can cost millions of dollars over their lifetime. Having an experienced lawyer in your corner can help you in recovering the financial compensation needed for their future.
Our legal/medical team at JJS has decades of experience as a brain injury law firm handling HIE. Significant verdicts and settlements from cases we've tried have provided the financial means for our clients to ensure lifetime care for their children.
Locations We Serve
Our hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy lawyers have handled cases throughout the United States. They practice in Washington D.C. and 10 U.S. states: Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. Our team is familiar with the regulations and laws of each state they work in. Our attorneys have also been specially admitted to try cases in many other states.
Why Choose Janet, Janet & Suggs for Your Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Case?
JJS is a brain injury law firm committed to helping families get the financial compensation they are entitled to. We have the knowledge and resources needed to investigate and litigate your case, helping you seek the answers and compensation you deserve. We do not charge any upfront costs—you pay us nothing until you obtain compensation via a settlement or favorable jury verdict.
Contact us today to have your case evaluated and schedule your free consultation today.
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