Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Attorney

If your baby developed hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) due to a doctor’s serious mistake, don’t make the mistake of letting it slide. Medical malpractice is unacceptable, and your baby deserves compensation for the best possible care. A hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy attorney can help you pursue the justice and support your child needs.

Our hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy attorneys have recovered millions from lawsuits involving preventable HIE. Find out if we can help your family, too. 

Below, you can learn more about HIE and how it may result from medical malpractice. We’ll also tell you what to know about HIE lawsuits before filing one. 

What Is a Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Attorney?

A hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy attorney is a lawyer who helps families affected by HIE. They specialize in medical malpractice cases. They work to prove that doctors or hospitals were negligent in causing or failing to prevent an injury.

An HIE attorney helps families seek compensation for damages, including:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Long-term care
• Medical devices and equipment, like wheelchairs
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress 

These lawyers also provide guidance through the legal process to ensure families get the support they need.

Facts About HIE

Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain injury. It happens when the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen and blood. It usually develops during childbirth. 

Here are some fast facts about this condition:

• It’s semi-rare, but it’s still a significant concern. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, HIE affects 2-3 out of 1,000 babies born worldwide.
• There are different levels of HIE. Mild cases might have fewer long-term effects. Severe cases can lead to lifelong disabilities.
• Some babies develop conditions like cerebral palsy, seizures, and developmental delays from HIE. 
• The main cause of HIE is problems during labor. This includes a twisted umbilical cord, placenta issues, or a delayed delivery.
• Treatment for HIE usually involves cooling therapy. It helps reduce brain damage by lowering the baby’s body temperature. However, not all babies respond to this treatment.

What Causes HIE?

Some common causes of HIE include:

• Problems with the umbilical cord, like it being twisted or compressed.
• The placenta separating from the uterus too early.
• A very long or difficult labor.
• Infection in the mother or baby.
• Low blood pressure in the mother.
• Blocked airways in the baby.

Doctors must act quickly if they see any signs of oxygen loss. If they don’t, the baby can suffer permanent brain damage. If your baby suffered permanent brain damage due to negligence, contact a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy attorney. 

Can HIE Be The Result of Medical Malpractice?

In some cases, medical providers don’t act fast enough to prevent an injury from happening during childbirth. This delay can lead to HIE. 

One way this can happen is when doctors or nurses fail to monitor the baby’s oxygen levels. That’s something they should do during each and every birth. Monitoring the baby is part of what’s called the “standard of care”. 

When medical professionals don’t follow the “standard of care” for a given situation, babies can get hurt. If a baby goes without oxygen for even just several minutes, they can develop HIE.  

A doctor might be liable if they failed to notice the baby was deprived of oxygen, or failed to treat the baby for it. Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy attorneys represent children with HIE, working to obtain compensation from medical care providers to pay for their needs.

Who’s Liable When a Baby Develops HIE?

That depends on the circumstances of the injury. But any type of medical professional could be responsible. You can also name a hospital or medical institution in an HIE lawsuit. 

Also, different medical professionals might share liability. Here are some examples of who could be liable:

• Doctors: If they fail to monitor the baby’s vital signs, delay a necessary C-section, or make mistakes during delivery, they could be held responsible.
• Nurses: If they don’t act on warning signs or fail to follow proper procedures, they may share liability.
• Hospitals: If the hospital has poor staffing, defective equipment, or lacks proper procedures, it can be held accountable.
• Medical staff: Other medical professionals, like anesthesiologists or midwives, could be liable if their actions contribute to the injury.

A hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy attorney can help you investigate who’s responsible. To do this, they will review your medical records. They may also consult medical experts and ask them to share their opinions. 

What to Know about HIE Lawsuits

An HIE lawsuit can help families of children with HIE obtain three important things:

• Justice for the baby and the family
• Compensation for the child’s medical treatment
• Compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress

This type of lawsuit aims to prove that medical professionals committed negligence during childbirth, leading to the child’s injury. 

To file an HIE lawsuit, you should work with a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy attorney. Avoid firms that don’t specialize in birth injury cases, as only HIE attorneys have the expertise and experience required to handle these complex cases successfully.

Here’s what to know about HIE lawsuits:

1. The goal is to help your family get financial compensation. This can cover medical bills, long-term care, therapies, and any future needs the child may have due to the injury. It may also include compensation for emotional pain and suffering.
2. Most of the time, compensation comes via a settlement. Should no settlement be reached, the case may go to trial. There, a judge or jury will decide the outcome.
3. In most HIE lawsuits, medical experts must testify. They help explain what went wrong and how it caused the baby’s injury.
4. You don’t have unlimited time to file a lawsuit. Every state has a deadline for filing medical malpractice cases. It’s usually 2 or 3 years from the time of injury. 
5. HIE cases are tough to win because they involve complex medical issues. Also, doctors and hospitals often have strong legal defense teams. This is why HIE lawyers are the best choice for cases related to this injury.

Why Hire a Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy Attorney?

Paying for lifelong care for a baby with HIE can be as expensive as buying a bunch of luxury cars. But your child’s care isn’t a frivolous want—it’s a need!  

Medical bills, therapy, and long-term care add up quickly. For example, lifetime care for a child with cerebral palsy (a condition that often develops from HIE) costs around $1.3 million dollars. 

 If medical mistakes caused your child’s HIE, you may be entitled to financial support. That’s where a hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy attorney can help. They can help you seek compensation to cover these costs. 

Hiring a hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy attorney ensures:

• Your case is handled by someone with experience in medical malpractice law, and HIE.
• You’ll have a lawyer who knows how to investigate the situation, gather evidence, and fight for your family’s rights.
• You’ll have peace of mind and time to dedicate to your child. You won’t face this legal battle alone. 

Your HIE lawyer will work to prove that negligence caused the injury, and hold the responsible parties accountable. Should you choose Hampton & King to represent you, you can rest assured you won’t pay a dime unless we win your case. 

With us, your child’s future is in good hands—we work to get the maximum amount possible in every case we handle.