Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) Attorneys in New Mexico

If Your Infant Has Suffered Serious Brain Injury, Let Us Help You Find Answers and Justice.

When a baby is deprived of oxygen for a prolonged period during labor and delivery, cell death occurs in the brain and other parts of the body. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, is caused by oxygen deprivation while the baby is in utero. It is a common cause of cerebral palsy and often leads to other severe developmental and cognitive delays and impairments that can continue to become apparent as a child grows.

HIE is preventable. It occurs when hospital corporations have:

1. Inadequate, unenforced, or insufficient policies, procedures, and protocols to ensure babies and moms are properly monitored for signs of complications or distress
2. Treatment teams that do not intervene when necessary

The corporations that own and operate hospital labor and delivery units and the treatment teams they place in their units are responsible for preventing such a tragedy from occurring. Brain injury can happen in just a few minutes but affect a child for the rest of his or her life.

There is nothing that will make up for the challenges HIE will introduce to your child’s life and to your family. However, you can and should seek justice. Our team at McGinn Montoya Love Curry & Sievers PA is dedicated to helping the victims of medical malpractice and birth injury hold any at-fault parties accountable. We are compassionate, yet unafraid to take on big insurers and hospital corporations for their conduct. If your family is looking for answers or considering filing a birth injury claim, we can help you.

Schedule a free consultation for your HIE claim by calling our team at (505) 405-4441. We serve families across New Mexico, helping them fight the battles that matter.

Causes of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

When a mother is giving birth, there are multiple ways providers can see possible signs of distress. For a baby in utero, the way it communicates is through the fetal heart monitor. When there are any signs of possible distress, your treatment team must take immediate action to prevent catastrophic brain and organ damage. If a baby’s oxygen supply is not promptly restored, brain cells will begin to die.

Treatment Options for Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy

Though HIE begins during delivery or labor, the death of brain cells happens in a cascade that can continue after birth. Prompt diagnosis of HIE is essential to trying to mitigate the process that has already begun after the failure to respond to signs of distress. Timely treatment depends on your baby being properly and quickly diagnosed with HIE, which can be identified by abnormal heart rate, low Apgar score, the need for respiratory support, or other immediate indicators.

Cooling Therapy/Hypothermia Therapy

Hypothermia therapy can be used within the first few hours of life to slow down biological processes that result in cascading brain cell death. It is best provided to babies with moderate-to-severe HIE, where it can decrease the rates of mortality and disability that may have otherwise resulted. It should be initiated as soon as possible to be effective.

Plan for the Future with an HIE Claim

Even children who receive prompt cooling therapy may suffer serious cognitive impairment, motor dysfunction, cognitive delays, visual and hearing impairment, and other conditions that require assistance or ongoing medical treatment and care. By filing a birth injury claim, you can seek compensation for damages, including:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical bills
• Rehabilitative therapies (physical, speech, occupational, etc.)
• Assistive devices such as hearing aids
• Accommodations and home renovations
• Day-to-day assistance
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Harm to the relationship

Making sure your child has access to the best care and assistance available is important. Filing an injury claim can help you obtain the financial means to cover the extraordinary costs necessitated by the wrongful conduct of others.