Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, often referred to as HIE, is a birth injury, more specifically, a brain injury, caused by a lack of oxygen to the baby’s brain at some point during the labour or delivery process. It can often lead to permanent injury resulting in cerebral palsy. A diagnosis of cerebral palsy can carry with it life-altering changes for the child and that can impact the family as well. The consequences of HIE can range from mild to severe developmental delays, to death.
Possible Causes of HIE
While the exact causes of hypoxic-ischemic injuries are often unclear in individual circumstances, many studies have cited uterine rupture, umbilical cord complications, blood pressure problems, and placenta issues such as placental abruption, as causes. Following childbirth, symptoms of these injuries may include seizures and other signs of brain damage.
It is absolutely critical for healthcare staff to properly monitor both mother and baby during labour and delivery. Every modern hospital is equipped with the proper technology to monitor both oxygen levels and blood flow in mother and baby during the entire process.
Unfortunately, mistakes are still made. Problems with the heart rate can go unnoticed for too long. The baby can suffer from asphyxia, or insufficient oxygen supply, for a number of reasons that sometimes go undetected or improperly treated. A failure to recognise and resolve fetal distress during labour and delivery can have catastrophic consequences for baby and mother.
The bottom line is that while some problems are caused by congenital disorders that could not be prevented, some birth injuries are caused by the negligence of someone on the medical care team during pregnancy, or labour and delivery.
Some examples of possible causes of HIE are:
- Failure to perform a necessary c-section
- Preeclampsia
- Undetected oxygen deprivation after birth
- Perinatal asphyxia
Most of the time we don’t realize how many people come in contact with the mother and baby during pregnancy, labour and delivery. Every one of these medical professionals is responsible for providing mother and baby with medical care that meets expected standards. Sometimes things are done incorrectly. Sometimes conditions go undetected, and sometimes an incorrect diagnosis leads to the wrong treatment or medication being administered. Each of these things could be malpractice that puts your baby at risk and ultimately causes complications during labour or delivery. These complications could result in life-altering injuries.
Birth Injuries Caused by a Lack of Oxygen to the Brain
At Pacific Medical Law, we have extensive legal experience and provide professional service to families who have been impacted by HIE and other birth injuries as the result of malpractice. Our lawyers have a strong passion for what is fair and right. With our significant resources, along with painstaking analysis and incisive strategy, we work hard to build your case.
It takes a special kind of legal team to put together a medical negligence claim in a birth injury case. The necessary knowledge goes far beyond just the law. We have access to highly specialized medical professionals and experts who understand the medicine and the expected standard of care. That’s what makes an HIE attorney team like Pacific Medical Law different from other personal injury firms.
It’s About Getting What Your Child Needs
Many people think about filing a lawsuit as revenge for something bad that happened to them. The truth is, it’s not like that at all.
If your baby suffers a birth injury, it could affect the physical and mental health of your baby for the rest of his or her life. There is no reason that you and your family should have to take on a burden like that because a health care provider was negligent.
As birth injury attorneys, we believe that your child has the right to the full and fair compensation. A child harmed by a birth injury could require extra medical care for the rest of his or her life, special equipment to help them move through the world, and modifications to structures like homes and schools so they can get around safely. There is nothing wrong with asking for help from those responsible if you are in such a situation. In fact, doing anything else would be unfair to both you and your child.
British Columbia Birth Injury Lawyers
When you need to speak to a law firm that understands and cares about your situation, contact Pacific Medical Law. You can contact us anytime online or call 1-604-685-2361 toll-free to set up a consultation.
Our team of legal and medical professionals is ready to conduct a full investigation of your circumstances. Your initial consultation is free and confidential. We’ll be happy to go over the details of your case, provide you with a case evaluation, and discuss exactly what we can do to help you.