Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) and Medical Malpractice

Did medical negligence cause your child’s HIE? Should you call an HIE lawyer?

• What is hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
• What causes HIE?
• Long-term HIE effects and symptoms
• Filing a lawsuit based on HIE
• Should I contact a medical malpractice lawyer?

For parents, the worries associated with parenting start well before their baby is even born. Unfortunately, there are a number of birth injuries that can occur during pregnancy, during labor and delivery, or in the postnatal period.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is one of the most serious birth injuries.

Let’s take a closer look at HIE, and whether or not a diagnosis gives rise to a medical malpractice claim.

What is hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a type of brain damage that occurs when the brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen or blood flow for a period of time.

HIE can develop during pregnancy, labor and delivery, or in the postnatal period.

According to an article published in the Newborn Infant and Nursing Review, HIE occurs in 1.5 to 2.5 of every 1,000 live births in developed countries. Interestingly, the rate of HIE hasn’t declined over the last few decades despite advances in obstetric care.

What causes HIE?

HIE occurs as a result of an event that deprives oxygen or blood flow to the newborn’s brain in the prenatal (before birth), intrapartum (during birth), or postnatal (after birth) period. The deprivation of oxygen and blood causes cells in the baby’s developing brain to rapidly decay and then die.

The exact event that prevents oxygen or blood flow to the brain is not always clear. However, there are a number of risk factors and potential causes, including:

Long-term HIE effects and symptoms

Some children who suffer HIE won’t experience any health issues (or only mild or moderate effects), while others will have severe and permanent disabilities (such as developmental delay, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or cognitive impairment) or die.

When the blood or oxygen supply to the brain is interrupted, the rest of the body (beyond the brain) may also be deprived. This may prevent other organs from functioning properly, including the heart, liver, and kidneys.

Filing a lawsuit based on HIE

Sometimes the causes of HIE are unknown, other times HIE is unavoidable. In order to file a medical malpractice lawsuit, you must be able to prove that your healthcare professional’s actions (or inactions) caused or worsened your child’s HIE.

More specifically, to file a medical malpractice lawsuit, you must prove:

• The healthcare professional failed to exercise the degree of care and skill expected of a reasonable healthcare professional in the same position, and
• Such failure was the proximate cause of your newborn’s injury.

A number of successful HIE lawsuits have been filed across the country. Often these lawsuits allege that a healthcare professional failed to notice signs of fetal distress and waited too long to deliver the newborn.

Keep in mind that all states have a statute of limitations that limit the amount of time a plaintiff has to file a medical malpractice lawsuit. The time limit varies from state to state and, in most cases, the clock won’t start ticking until the newborn turns 18.

Nevertheless, it’s important to talk to a lawyer sooner than later in order to preserve your rights.

Should I contact a medical malpractice lawyer?

Medical malpractice and birth injury lawsuits are particularly challenging to litigate without an attorney. Due to the technical nature of medical care, expert testimony is usually required to determine whether the healthcare professional's actions fell below the applicable standard of care.

What’s more, it’s not always clear who should be sued (doctors, nurses, the hospital, etc.) and what damages can be recovered.

If your child suffers from HIE, it’s a good idea to meet with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Most initial consultations are free.

You can contact an experienced birth injury attorney to handle your HIE claim using our free online legal directory.