When Oxygen Deprivation Injures Your New Baby, We Fight for Justice

Types of HIE Cases We Handle in Pittsburgh

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy occurs when a baby's brain doesn't receive enough oxygen and blood flow during pregnancy, labor, and the delivery process. Our Pittsburgh birth injury lawyers represent families whose child suffered preventable brain damage due to medical negligence by medical professionals.

HIE claims we handle:

• Temporary effects lasting 24 to 48 hours with good recovery potential

• Physical symptoms lasting weeks with varying recovery outcomes

• Life-threatening brain injury causing permanent intellectual disabilities
  

• Perinatal asphyxia from prolonged labor complications
  

• Birth asphyxia during difficult deliveries
  

• Neonatal encephalopathy from oxygen deprivation to the infant's brain
  

• Therapeutic hypothermia treatment delays
  

• Fetal monitoring failures, missing distress signals
  

• Emergency C-section delays when immediate delivery was required
  

Recognizing HIE Symptoms in Your Child

HIE symptoms may appear immediately after birth or develop gradually as your child misses developmental milestones. Early recognition is vital for both medical treatment and protecting your legal claim.

Immediate Signs After Birth

Certain physical symptoms become apparent within hours of delivery and require immediate medical attention. These include abnormal heart rate patterns, breathing difficulties or respiratory failure, seizures within the first 24 to 48 hours, extremely low Apgar scores (typically below 3), poor muscle tone making the baby appear floppy, weak or absent reflexes, and muscle weakness.

Developmental Warning Signs

Some brain damage caused by HIE doesn't become evident until months or even years later, when children fail to reach normal milestones. Parents may notice their child having difficulty sitting, crawling, or walking on schedule. Other concerning symptoms include delayed speech development, learning disabilities, vision or hearing problems, cerebral palsy symptoms, and intellectual disabilities affecting cognitive function.

Long-Term Effects

Children with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy may face lifelong challenges requiring extensive medical care, special education services, physical and occupational therapy, adaptive equipment and home modifications, and around-the-clock supervision depending on severity.

Common Causes of HIE in Pittsburgh Hospitals

HIE typically results from preventable medical errors during pregnancy, labor, and the delivery process. Hospital staff have a duty to monitor both mother and baby properly for signs of distress and respond appropriately to prevent oxygen deprivation to the baby's brain.

Medical Negligence During Delivery

Medical professionals may make serious mistakes that deprive babies of enough oxygen during the birthing process. Common medical errors include failing to recognize fetal distress on monitoring strips, delayed C-section when emergency delivery is needed, improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors, medication errors affecting oxygen delivery, and inadequate response to umbilical cord complications like prolapse or compression.

Pregnancy and Labor Complications

Certain conditions during pregnancy and labor increase HIE risks when not properly managed by medical staff. These include placental abruption or placenta previa, prolonged or obstructed labor lasting over 20 hours, umbilical cord problems including nuchal cord, maternal infections affecting oxygen delivery, severe preeclampsia or eclampsia, and uterine rupture during delivery.

Failure to Provide Therapeutic Hypothermia

When HIE is diagnosed, immediate cooling therapy can minimize brain damage. Medical negligence includes failing to diagnose HIE within 6 hours of birth, delaying therapeutic hypothermia treatment, improper cooling protocols, and inadequate monitoring during treatment.

What to Do After an HIE Diagnosis in Pittsburgh

An HIE diagnosis is devastating, but taking prompt action protects both your child's health and your family's legal rights. Our Pittsburgh birth injury lawyers recommend these steps to preserve your case.

• Seek specialized medical care: Ensure your child receives care from pediatric neurologists and HIE physicians who can properly evaluate your child's condition. Consider seeking a second opinion from a children's hospital to explore all available treatment options.
  

• Document everything thoroughly: Keep detailed records of your child's symptoms, medical appointments, treatments, and any statements made by medical professionals about the birth injury. Request complete copies of all medical records from pregnancy, labor, delivery, and subsequent care.

• Preserve evidence: Medical records are time-sensitive and may be altered or destroyed. Don't sign any hospital documents or settlement agreements without legal representation. Avoid discussing fault with hospital staff or insurance representatives.

• Contact experienced HIE attorneys: Pennsylvania law limits the time to file medical malpractice claims on behalf of the parents to only two years, and for the child up to their 20th birthday, making immediate legal consultation essential. Birth injury cases require specialized medical and advanced legal knowledge to prove negligence and recover compensation.

• Continue necessary treatment: While pursuing your legal claim, maintain all recommended medical care, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and any prescribed medications or treatments.

HIE Laws and Medical Standards in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania law requires specific procedures for pursuing HIE medical malpractice claims. Our experienced Pittsburgh birth injury lawyers handle all legal requirements while you focus on your child's care.

Medical Standard of Care

Medical professionals must adhere to established standards for monitoring fetal well-being, recognizing signs of distress, and responding promptly to prevent oxygen deprivation. Violations include failing to interpret fetal monitoring strips, delaying necessary interventions, and not providing immediate therapeutic hypothermia when indicated.

Certificate of Merit Requirement

Pennsylvania requires a qualified medical expert who practices in the same specialty to confirm that negligence likely occurred and caused your child's birth injury. Our legal team works with experienced obstetricians, neonatologists, and pediatric neurologists to obtain written confirmation of a breach of the standard of care.

Statute of Limitations

Two claims have to be considered. First, the parents have two years to file claims for their own damages. Second, personal injury claims on behalf of the child for medical negligence must be filed by the child’s 20th birthday. This timeline makes prompt legal consultation essential. Parents shouldn’t wait a long time to contact our experienced attorneys because evidence can disappear over time.

Modified Comparative Fault

Pennsylvania law allows recovery if you're less than 51% at fault for the injury. Your compensation will be reduced by any percentage of fault attributed to you, though this rarely applies in HIE birth injury cases.

Compensation Available for HIE Families

Our team pursues comprehensive compensation to cover your child's lifetime needs and your family's losses from medical negligence.