Dallas Hypoxia Birth Injury Lawyer

Has your child suffered an HIE birth injury? Call our Dallas HIE Birth Injury Attorneys at (214) 651-6100 for a FREE case evaluation.

What is Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)?

HIE is a condition that causes a newborn baby's brain cells to die due to a lack of oxygen (hypoxia). This type of birth injury causes permanent brain damage. Birth injuries are often devastating, resulting in serious mental and emotional consequences for children, impacting their physical abilities immediately and continuing as they grow. One of the most damaging injuries children can sustain is hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Hypoxia at birth is a serious complication, which often causes lifelong injury to the child. HIE injuries may also lead to the development of cerebral palsy.

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is one of the most common causes of cerebral palsy and various other disabilities in children. When children suffer from this debilitating injury as a result of a negligent medical professional, it is imperative that families act quickly to protect their legal rights. Those harmed by careless and reckless doctors, nurses, and medical professionals may be entitled to compensation to help alleviate the costs they have incurred and will incur in the future.

At Rasansky Law Firm, we provide aggressive and trusted legal representation to ensure our clients’ rights are protected, and they are able to obtain a full and fair settlement. Our Dallas hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy birth injury lawyers are available to meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss your case and determine who should be held responsible for your child’s suffering. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free case evaluation to see how we can assist you.

Hypoxia Birth Injury Lawyer

HIE in infants can occur during childbirth due to various reasons; however, the underlying cause is often the direct result of medical negligence by the obstetrician, nurse, midwife, doctor, or other medical professional. If your child has suffered brain damage as a result of a healthcare professional's negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation to offset the cost of lifetime care.

If you suspect your child suffered an HIE birth injury due to medical negligence, don't wait to contact our experienced Dallas HIE birth injury lawyers by calling (214) 651-6100.  Rasansky Law Firm's birth injury attorneys have over 65 years of combined experience and always offer a FREE birth injury case evaluation.

Fetal HIE birth injuries can occur from hypoxia during delivery from a variety of causes:

• The baby might be left in the birth canal for too long, cutting off their oxygen supply
• Doctors and other medical professionals may fail to monitor the baby's vital signs, such as heartbeat, effectively missing an opportunity to prevent a potential emergency in a timely manner
• The baby's umbilical cord may be prolapsed or wrapped around his/her throat, cutting off oxygen supply
• The baby may be born breech, which may lengthen its transit time through the birth canal
• Compression or any kind of trauma to the baby's trachea, which cuts off oxygen supply
• Low blood pressure, which may interfere with oxygen flow from the baby's heart to his/her brain
• The child is suffering from any type of cardiovascular disease
• When the mother suffered from diabetes combined with vascular disease
• Experiencing preeclampsia can impact fetal heart rate and oxygen supply
• Anesthesia errors
• When forceps and vacuum extracts are not used properly
• When a vaginal birth is performed after a mother received a cesarean for a previous pregnancy (VBAC)
• As a result of birth trauma due to the child being improperly positioned during birth
• When the child sustains severe brain or skull trauma
• When the child is born prematurely
• When there are congenital brain malformations present

HIE symptoms may not become apparent until a few months into the baby's life. HIE symptoms generally include:

• Seizures
• Poor coordination
• Developmental delay
• Poor judgment
• Hearing and vision problems
• Learning disabilities
• Poor feeding habits
• Experiencing behavioral abnormalities
• Having an abnormal heart rate or blood pressure
• Having irregularities of blood pressure or heart rate
• Labored breathing after birth
• Not breathing at birth
• Having excessive acid levels in the blood
• Having meconium in the amniotic fluids at birth
• Lethargy
• Poor reflexes and inability to control various muscles (also indicative of cerebral palsy)

How Serious is Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy?

The severity of this condition is often determined by the type and severity of the brain damage that was inflicted upon the child during the birthing process. Children have an increased risk of suffering permanent disabilities from Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy depending on whether or not:

• They suffered from prolonged oxygen deprivation during the birthing process
• The amount of time they were deprived of oxygen
• The condition of the child before they experienced the deprivation of oxygen
• How well the baby was managed after the oxygen deprivation occurred

There are several factors that determine how long a baby can survive without oxygen. It is imperative that you understand the difference between a child surviving without any long-term consequences versus those left with adverse health effects, such as permanent brain damage.

Newborns who suffer from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy may not exert any symptoms until later in their childhood. Some of the common signs exerted by HIE children include not reaching developmental milestones on time. Children may have problems growing, experience motor skill impairments, have cognitive function problems, and various other problems. 

The more severe the brain injury, the more likely the child is to suffer from long-term consequences. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy can result in various long-term disabilities, conditions, and impairments, including:

• Epilepsy: Children who suffer from HIE are likely to experience neonatal seizure disorders. There are some instances where children only have one seizure and others where children suffer constant seizures that last well into their childhood and adulthood. These seizures can worsen in cases caused by HIE, which makes it crucial that the condition is detected and addressed as soon as possible.
• Cerebral Palsy: Cerebral palsy is a severely disabling condition that is often caused by hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. This condition can have a dramatic impact on a child’s muscle control and movement. It can result in deformities and multiple other musculoskeletal problems. Children with CP often suffer from epilepsy, vision, and hearing problems, as well as severe cognitive impairments.
• Learning Disabilities: Children who suffer from learning disabilities as a result of HIE are unable to reach developmental milestones. These can be related to behavioral, communication, or physical functions, as well as intellectual abilities. Overcoming these issues can be nearly impossible.
• Motor Disorders: Children lose the ability to control how their muscles work and have problems picking up objects, turning their heads, and walking.
• Microcephaly: This condition is indicative of Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and is evident when children have smaller-sized heads. This condition makes it more likely that children will suffer from cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and other disabilities.
• Speech and Language Problems: Children who have HIE may have problems speaking and hearing. They will have limited communication skills and may not be able to understand others.
• Vision Impairments: Children who suffer from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy may never be able to see properly. These children will lack the critical communication skills that they need to communicate and engage in activities.
• Sensory Processing Disorders: Children who suffer from Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy may have problems receiving and responding to sensory messages. When they are unable to detect sensory signals in their brains, they are unable to express an adequate response to the stimulant. As a result, children may not feel things touching them.

As you can see, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy can have a dramatic impact on a child’s life. Not only do these injuries have overwhelming consequences for children, but their families often have to spend endless time and financial resources on their care. When babies suffer as a result of medical negligence, it is crucial that their families act quickly to get the justice and compensation they need and deserve. 

Is medical malpractice to blame?

Medical malpractice is defined as the failure of a medical professional to provide an individual with treatment that follows the accepted standards of practice, resulting in harm to the patient.

Medical malpractice is a common cause of HIE in infants. Doctors are required to monitor both the baby's and mother's vital signals at all times during labor and delivery in order to mitigate any emergencies. For example, delaying a C-section when it was obvious the birth would be challenging and potentially dangerous may constitute malpractice. Misinterpreting or failing to monitor fetal distress signals, such as the baby's heart rate, and failing to carry out appropriate tests before birth in order to mitigate preventable complications can all constitute medical malpractice.

The cost of treatment, therapy, and related expenses required after a HIE birth injury can be astronomical.

Raising a child with HIE can cost a fortune. Your child may require multiple surgeries, occupational and physical therapy, continuing medication, psycho-social assistance, special equipment, and more. Unfortunately, most families are not prepared for the high degree of financial burden that comes along with caring for a child born with this kind of lifelong birth injury.

Contacting an experienced HIE birth injury lawyer will give you the best chance at recovering monetary damages from those responsible for causing the injury. At Rasansky Law Firm, our knowledgeable & experienced attorneys and medical advisers thoroughly review your and your child's hospital records in order to determine if negligence did indeed occur. If negligence appears to be present, we will prepare a solid case and advocate on behalf of you and your child. Your child deserves the best care, and our goal is to help your family fight for what is right, just, and fair.