What is Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy and How Could it Be Caused by Oregon Medical Malpractice? Portland Birth Injury Lawyers Explain
There are many different types of serious birth injuries that could occur to a newborn, but one of the most serious ones is hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Also known as HIE, this type of birth injury results in an irreparable harm to the developing brain in the form of lesions. These lesions cause permanent damage to the brain which means that there is a void of brain tissue in that location of the lesion. This means that normal brain tissue will not develop in that spot. This is a very serious problem because it means a newborn will have permanent disability or difficulty in the areas of the brain which suffered the lesions. Our Portland birth injury lawyers want to explain what is hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and how it can be caused by Oregon medical malpractice to help families better protect their rights.
This is because most times a healthcare provider will not admit to making mistakes which results in a birth injury such as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy or HIE. In fact, many times healthcare providers will blame genetics or claim that hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is a natural risk or consequence of the birthing process. While this can be true in some instances, many times hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is actually caused by reckless, careless, or downright negligent for gross negligence conduct of healthcare providers. This means that many instances of HIE could be avoided or prevented if healthcare providers complied with their duty of care. When they do not, in order to save their license and their livelihood, far too many healthcare providers are willing to lie about the causes of your newborns birth injuries. This is why it is imperative for families to understand a little about hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in order to protect their rights and their loved ones rights.
What is Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy?
This debilitating and damaging type of Oregon birth injury is a type of birth asphyxia. This means that a newborn suffered some type of oxygen deficiency or deprivation during the labor and delivery process. This is a dangerous time for an oxygen deprivation or deficiency because the developing brain requires high amounts of oxygen to properly develop. When the brain does not receive the amount of oxygen that it means, damage can begin to form in the parts of the brain which receive the least or no oxygen. This is how of the lesions form.
The cause of the oxygen deprivation which causes the brain damage is due to a lack of blood flow to the brain. It is this blood flow which brings rich, oxygenated blood to supply the brain. When there is a restriction in blood flow, there is a restriction in oxygen supply. This is what can result in a decrease in oxygenated blood to the brain. This means that newborns will receive less oxygen and suffer a deprivation.
Common Causes of HIE
There are many possible causes of HIE. The most common causes are actually due to reckless, careless, or even negligent conduct by healthcare providers. This means that healthcare providers could be unnecessarily causing catastrophic birth injuries to innocent children. That is grounds for a claim of Oregon medical malpractice that our Portland birth injury lawyers may be able to help victims with.
Some of the most common causes due to Oregon medical malpractice include the following:
- Delays in performing a c-section
- Improper monitoring of an infant
- Overdoses of Pitocin
- Delays in calling an OB-GYN for help
- Mischarting
- Improper use of forceps or vacuum extraction tools
- Improper handling of a baby after birth
- Delays in perfomring fetal resuscitation
- Failing to identify an umbilical cord prolapse
- Not reacting quickly enough to a ruptured umbilical cord or separated umbilical cord
- Baby too large versus the pelvis too small
- Gestational diabetes
- Failing to diagnose bleeding
- Not reacting to excessive contractions or acceleration and decelerations of the baby, and
- Many other common causes and results.
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy is a Catastrophic Birth Injury, Get Our Portland Birth Injury Lawyers on Your Side
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of medical malpractice contact the Oregon Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take medical malpractice cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
