Hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation, is a common cause of brain injury in newborns. Very often, hypoxic birth injuries are preventable. Quick action when there are complications or signs of fetal distress, can prevent injury or minimize the amount of time that the brain is oxygen-starved, so that the injury is minimized. The lifetime costs of hypoxic birth injuries can be crushing. If your child was harmed by medical negligence, the compensation you can receive can help your child get the care and services they need to enjoy the best possible quality of life after injury. An experienced Georgia birth injury attorney can help.
Medical Negligence Leading to Hypoxic Birth Injuries
Doctors and medical staff have a responsibility to respond appropriately to warning signs, complications and signs of fetal distress. Failure to properly monitor the mother and baby and respond appropriately and in a timely manner is not “just something that happens sometimes” during childbirth. It is negligence. Come common causes of hypoxic birth injury include:
- Preeclampsia and eclampsia
- Administration of inappropriate medications to mother during pregnancy
- Inappropriate administration of Pitocin to induce or speed labor
- Anesthesia mistakes
- Umbilical cord strangulation
- Prolapsed umbilical cord
- Placental abruption
- Prolonged time in birth canal, often due to shoulder dystocia
- Failure to respond to fetal distress
- Failure to perform timely C-section
- Seizure
- Stroke
- Failure to properly clear the airway when the baby is delivered
- Failure to give oxygen to newborn when needed
Consequences of Hypoxic Birth Injury
Children who suffered hypoxic birth injury can be affected for the rest of their lives. Some of the conditions caused by hypoxic birth injury can mean that your child will need extensive care and services and may never be able to live independently. Consequences of hypoxic birth injury can include:
- Feeding problems leading to malnutrition
- Developmental delays
- Learning disabilities
- Speech delays
- Behavioral problems
- Mental health disorders
- Vision impairment
- Hearing impairment
- Respiratory conditions
- Orthopedic problems
- Cerebral palsy
- Other motor disorders
- Autism
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Epilepsy
If your child suffered hypoxic birth injury, in Georgia, Robbins Law, PC, is here to help. Please, give us a call at 800-772-5555 or contact us online today and schedule your free consultation.
Infants suffering from oxygen deprivation often develop disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), seizures, and behavioral problems. Such conditions often require long-term specialized care including medication, occupational, physical, and behavioral therapies, specialized educational methods, and even home modification.
- Cerebral palsy and other motor disorders
- Epilepsy and seizure disorders
- Behavioral and emotional disorders
- Hearing impairments
- Visual impairments
- Feeding problems, nutritional concerns, and oral health issues
- Pain symptoms
- Respiratory conditions
- Skin issues
- Orthopedic issues
- Mental health conditions
Lack of oxygen is one of the most common causes of brain injury to fetuses and newborns. It is also called anoxia or hypoxia. Common causes of hypoxic birth injury include:
- Stroke
- Seizure
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The long term financial cost of supporting a child who suffers from hypoxia is tremendous, and you need to secure your child’s rights within the window of time allowed by law.
The sad thing about these types of injuries is that they are largely preventable. A birth injury can happen at any time during the birthing process. Often a red flag or complication arises during birth. It is up to professionally competent physicians and medical staff to address these complications, long before a birth injury occurs.
Types of Hypoxia
Hypoxia is a medical condition where the body is not receiving enough oxygen. The extent of the damage depends on how long the brain did not have adequate oxygen. In a minor case, hypoxia could cause dizziness. In a severe case, cognitive brain damage and even death can occur.
Many different things can cause this oxygen deprivation. Some may occur naturally in adults. Extreme physical activity, being at high altitudes, sleep apnea, and people with lung disease can experience hypoxia. Other instances that can effect oxygen saturation are certain medication, alcohol and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Hypoxia Birth Injury
The complication of a hypoxic event during childbirth is a very serious condition. One of the ways that this can happen is where the infant does not receive adequate oxygen while in the birth canal. Damage to the mother’s placenta, a tangled umbilical cord or infection can also cause a hypoxic event.
More often than not, an attentive doctor can see that a child may be in danger of a hypoxic event, and will take quick evasive action to avoid the injury all together. Medical practitioners need to detect these situations in advance and take steps to eliminate the risk of hypoxia. The failure to take these steps is the leading cause of hypoxia in unborn children.
The practitioners at Duffy & Duffy, specifically lawyers handling hypoxia cases, often see this tragedy happen needlessly. Abiding by standards of care would prevent most of these injuries.
Effects of Hypoxia
If not quickly addressed, hypoxia can lead to mental and physical disabilities, and sometimes even death. The hypoxia lawyers at Duffy & Duffy all too often see a miraculous moment in life quickly turn to tragedy by inattentive medical staff.