Top Philadelphia Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Lawyers

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Why choose ross feller casey?

  • More than $3 Billion in Recoveries in Personal Injury Cases
  • No law firm has recovered more on behalf of injured Pennsylvania children over 5 years
  • Team of Leading Doctor-Lawyers on Staff
  • Among the nation’s top plaintiffs firms – The Philadelphia Inquirer
  • More than 75 $10-Million-plus Verdicts & Settlements
  • National Reputation for Record Results
  • “A firm that keeps setting new records” – Harvard Law School

Over the past five years alone, the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Ross Feller Casey have recovered more than $1 billion for its clients and have resolved more major birth injury cases, including those involving hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, than any other Pennsylvania law firm.

The most severe types of birth injuries to children in the birth process result from oxygen deprivation and are often the result of medical negligence and misdiagnosis.

A partial reduction in normal oxygenated blood to the brain can lead to what is known as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), while anoxic encephalopathy can occur as a result of total obstruction of blood flow.

The longer oxygenated blood is restricted from the brain, the more severe the brain injury.

Causes during labor and delivery can include umbilical cord occlusion, rupture of the placenta or uterus, abnormal fetal position, or very low blood pressure in the mother. Causes after delivery can include serious infections, trauma to the brain or skull, or very low blood pressure in the baby.

HIE occurs in about 3 to 20 per 1,000 births in the United States, making it the most common type of infant brain damage. According to the World Health Organization, HIE is also the fifth leading cause of death worldwide in children under 5.

How Do You Know When HIE Is Caused By Medical Malpractice?

Babies may suffer hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy due to numerous situations – some that are unpreventable. However, when HIE develops due to negligent care before, during, or shortly after birth, the risk of HIE increases significantly. Negligent care may include the following:

  • Improper monitoring of fetal heart rate
  • Failure to respond to indications of fetal distress promptly
  • Failure to perform a C-section delivery promptly when warranted
  • Insufficient care taken in a high-risk pregnancy
  • Failure to properly manage the fetal presentation
  • Failure of doctors or nurses to properly diagnose and treat a mother’s placental, uterine, or umbilical cord problems

It may be considered a birth injury case when any of the above birth complications occur, and HIE or other injuries result.

What Are The Long-Term Complications Of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy?

Complications of HIE can range in severity depending on the specific circumstances, from developmental delays to conditions associated with severe brain damage. Some issues caused by HIE may not be apparent right away. Instead, they become noticeable when certain developmental milestones are missed or delayed. Some of the conditions caused by HIE include:

  • Developmental delays
  • Speech delays
  • Learning disabilities
  • Visual impairments
  • Hearing impairments
  • Motor disorders
  • Respiratory conditions
  • Skin issues
  • Feeding problems, nutritional concerns, and oral health issues
  • Pain symptoms
  • Orthopedic issues
  • Behavioral and emotional disorders
  • Mental health conditions
  • Ataxic cerebral palsy
  • Epilepsy or seizure disorder

How to find an HIE lawyer in Pennsylvania?

If a loved one has suffered hypoxic and anoxic encephalopathy or another birth injury, one of our Philadelphia birth injury lawyers can assist you in determining if you have a case. Ross Feller Casey has a team of dedicated doctors right on staff in Philadelphia. This uniquely qualifies the firm to handle all birth injury-related cases, including hypoxic and anoxic encephalopathy lawsuits.

The firm handles cases on a contingency basis, so there will never be a cost to you unless there is a financial recovery in your case. Contact Ross Feller Casey today to schedule your free consultation.

You may still be able to investigate a potential medical malpractice claim even if the injury occurred some time ago, but your time may be running out.