When your child was born, you had high hopes for their future. Sadly, too many parents see their newborns transferred to a neonatal cooling center due to a birth injury known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE. If you are searching for “hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy causes,” you may be left frustrated and looking for answers.
At Coplan + Crane, our Chicago birth injury lawyers conduct thorough investigations to determine if medical negligence led to your baby’s condition. We often find that HIE occurs as a result of errors during labor and delivery, potentially leaving your child with lifelong deficits and your family with significant financial and emotional challenges.
If your baby was taken to a neonatal cooling center shortly after birth and you’re not clear what happened, call Coplan + Crane at 312-982-0588 today for a FREE case evaluation. Our birth injury attorneys serve clients in Chicago, Oak Park, and communities throughout Illinois.
Most people don’t know the term “hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy” unless they are personally affected by it. Each word sounds like medical jargon, so let’s break it down in simple terms:
In brief, HIE is a brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation and lack of blood. When it occurs in newborns, the condition is referred to as neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy has many potential causes. The following issues during pregnancy may lead to HIE:
The majority of HIE cases develop as a result of issues during labor and delivery. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy causes around the time a baby is born may include:
Some of these complications may occur due to preventable errors on the part of doctors and delivery room staff, such as failure to monitor fetal distress or delays in ordering a C-section. If this is the case and your baby suffered hypoxic-ischemic brain damage, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Neonatal cooling is, at present, the only available treatment for newborn babies with HIE. Also called head cooling or whole body cooling, the process involves gradually lowering the baby’s body temperature down to 92℉ and then slowly raising it back to normal.
This induces a state known as therapeutic hypothermia, in which metabolism is stalled so the brain has time to recover. Neonatal cooling can improve outcomes and limit further brain damage. However, severe oxygen deprivation during birth may still result in permanent and devastating effects.
Several major hospitals in Chicago perform selective head and whole body cooling on site in their neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Notable examples include Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Rush University Medical Center.
If your child needed cooling therapy, this may be a sign that the medical team suspected an HIE brain injury. A comprehensive investigation can determine if negligence during labor and delivery was a factor.
HIE is often accompanied by symptoms such as:
Babies should be carefully monitored for these and other signs of trouble, especially after a difficult birth. Timely intervention is essential for limiting further harm due to hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.
Sadly, prompt neonatal cooling may not be enough to prevent serious complications like cerebral palsy. One of the major challenges families face with identifying hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy causes is the fact that the full ramifications of HIE aren’t always discernible until the child gets older.
It is important to understand your rights if your child was taken to a neonatal cooling center and they are later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, an intellectual disability, developmental delays, or epilepsy. An HIE birth injury lawyer can review your case and explore your right to compensation.
The general statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims in Illinois is 2 years from the date the plaintiff knew of or should have discovered the injury. In cases where the victim is a minor, however, the statute of limitations may be extended.
Bottom line: Do not assume that it’s too late to make a claim. Parents may have additional time to pursue compensation for their child’s HIE birth injury.
Proving the cause of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is an integral part of your case. You can only recover damages if you can establish that a medical provider’s negligence caused the injury.
Attorneys well-versed in HIE will gather multiple forms of evidence to prove causation and support your claim. You and your family may be entitled to recovery of the following:
This is not a complete list. Lifelong disability can have many adverse effects on your child’s life. It is vital to work with a lawyer who can collect compelling evidence and recruit experts to establish all of the ways brain damage from HIE impacts your family and ensure that your claim accounts for all compensable losses.
Birth injury claims are complicated. Doctors, hospitals, and their insurers often argue that conditions like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy cannot be attributed to medical negligence. There are also procedural requirements plaintiffs must meet for a medical malpractice claim in Illinois to move forward.
Attorneys at Coplan + Crane have extensive experience representing families with children who were injured due to negligence during childbirth. We have obtained millions of dollars in compensation for our clients in birth injury cases.
Our Chicago HIE birth injury lawyers have an in-depth understanding of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy causes. We can prepare a strong case on your behalf and stand fast in negotiating a favorable settlement. If necessary, we can also represent you at trial.
Birth injury claims are not just a means for families to recover damages for the harm they and their child have suffered. These legal actions can hold negligent doctors and hospitals accountable for negligence, potentially preventing others from going through what you have endured.
Was your child transferred to a neonatal cooling center shortly after birth? Have they been diagnosed with HIE or a related condition? Coplan + Crane can explore your legal options and help you pursue justice.
Get your FREE case evaluation. Our birth injury lawyers serve clients across Illinois, including Chicago, Oak Park, Rockford, and other areas.
