What is Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)?

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is a medical condition whereby an inadequate oxygen supply causes damage to the cells of the brain and spinal cord. Doctors generally refer to this condition as HIE. When a child suffers hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) before, during, or just after childbirth, it is possible the physician is at fault. Doctor’s medical malpractice insurance is required to cover preventable errors like these and compensate you to provide for ongoing medical care. This condition occurs most frequently during or just before birth. This type of asphyxia is extremely rare: approximately two to four of every 1,000 births involve hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

When hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) does develop, the condition is life threatening and has the high potential to cause serious and permanent brain damage. Many infants exhibiting hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) will die during the newborn period. Of those hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy infants who survive, at least 25 percent will exhibit permanent neurological problems. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is a frequent cause of mental retardation, epilepsy, learning disability, and cerebral palsy. When complications arise in childbirth, such as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, families are left wondering why and how such devastating injuries occurred. The trust place in their primary medical care provider results in a reluctance to admit it was preventable.

South Carolina Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Information

There are many reasons that birth injuries such as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy occur, some of which are not yet fully understood by the medical community. Medical research has found that hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy can be extremely difficult to diagnose during childbirth due to the many birth injuries that present with similar symptoms. Some studies have revealed that umbilical cord complications, maternal uterine rupture, maternal hypotension, abruption placentae, and other complications may cause hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. A child who is suffering from this condition may present symptoms of seizures and other non-specific signs of brain damage during or shortly after childbirth.

Charleston Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Legal Advice

While hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy may not always be preventable, medical negligence can be a primary factor that leads to the development of this fatal and debilitating birth injury. When a physician fails to take action to prevent or adequately treat a medical complication that leads to HIE they can be held liable for all related damages. During this stressful time for your family, it may be difficult to believe the doctor, with whom you placed your trust for the delivery of your child, may be liable for your child’s injury. The ongoing medical expense is treating HIE can place even the most affluent family in financial distress. It is advisable o contact an attorney to discuss if the physician should be liable for these medical expenses. If you would like to learn more about hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, please contact the Clore Law Group to speak with a compassionate, yet aggressive attorney.