Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) lawyer Medford, OR

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) lawyer Medford, OR

You may not fully understand the signs of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), or you may already be familiar with how it may impact your child – but in either situation, a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) lawyer in Medford, Oregon, can help you win the financial compensation you deserve. HIE is a potentially life-threatening type of brain damage that occurs when your child is at his or her most fragile, so it pays to learn all you can in order to build a strong legal case against any incompetent or irresponsible medical practitioners involved with the delivery of your baby.

What is HIE?

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a type of brain damage that occurs during labor and delivery. The root cause of HIE is an inadequate flow of oxygen to the brain, and while it may not be frequently discussed, it affects up to 1.5 children out of every 1,000 births in the United States. HIE has the potential to permanently affect your child’s health and development, and if lest untreated or unnoticed, it can even result in your baby’s death.

What Causes HIE?

The underlying cause of HIE is a lack of oxygen for the brain. However, this lack of oxygen can be caused by a number of different factors. Maternal age or weight can play a significant part in whether a child experiences HIE during delivery, and high-risk pregnancies (if a mother has underlying medical conditions, for example, or has a certain pattern of lifestyle choices that can negatively affect the development of a baby) can also determine whether HIE occurs during delivery. Multiple pregnancies and a mother’s birthing history can also indicate whether HIE may affect a child.

Importantly, a medical practitioner’s failure to monitor a baby’s fetal development and health during labor and delivery can greatly contribute to HIE – in which case you should contact a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) lawyer in Medford, OR, immediately. Medical malpractice can severely impact the development of your child, and the right lawyer can secure a sufficient amount of financial compensation to help you provide a better future for your child.

How is HIE Detected?

Proper care requires proper detection. A competent and well-prepared medical practitioner can detect whether a child is at risk of HIE, and they can take timely steps to minimize the impact it can have on your child’s health. A low APGAR score is indicative of HIE: A doctor should check Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiratory effort of a child to make sure they are getting sufficient oxygen to the brain. If the APGAR score is low, they should quickly take steps to lower a child’s brain and body temperature while restoring the proper flow of oxygen.

Reaching Out to an HIE Lawyer

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a dangerous type of brain damage that has the potential to affect your child for the rest of his or her life. Left unchecked, it can even result in death. The right medical staff can take steps to mitigate the impact of HIE, but if they fail to ensure the safety and health of your child, you should contact an HIE lawyer as soon as possible. A lifelong disability resulting from HIE means potentially millions of dollars over the life of your child – and having sufficient financial compensation for their damages can help you build the best future possible for your baby.

Question to Ask Your Lawyer

Reaching out to a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) lawyer Medford, OR, can be a daunting task. There is nothing that says reaching out has to be done blindly though. There are plenty of questions you can ask your lawyer before selecting one. In fact you should be asking questions to make sure you get the best care possible. Here are some of the questions to ask: 

• Does your firm focus specifically on birth injury cases?: Because birth injury cases are complicated you want a lawyer that understands the medical and legal intricacies involved. Knowing you are with someone who understands from the start will make this process smoother. You’ll likely receive more attention from experts in the field than those who simply say they take on these cases. 

• Are there medical professionals on your legal team?: If they answer no, then you need to look somewhere else. Due to the nature of these cases, firms will employ nurses with relevant experience to talk to clients. Having a medical professional look at the cases can help a lawyer as nurses may see malpractice that might not be as immediately obvious to a lawyer. It is an added level of understanding to help you form a case for your child. 

• If I don’t win, will I lose money?: The lawyers that have your needs on their mind and your interest in mind operate on a contingency fee. Here at Andersen & Linthorst, it is the same policy so you know you are in good hands. 

• What does compensation look like?: Often, you will be looking at totals or annuity the families received from their settlements or wins. This number doesn’t always reflect what the clients actually obtained. When looking at numbers understand that the totals are what you are seeing and not what you will be getting. Any lawyer who states you will get that money is just trying to get a case. 

• What will your communication style be like?: You are going to want someone who answers in a timely manner. You don’t want to be kept waiting or given the run around by the receptionist. If they aren’t giving you the time you deserve, then that could mean they have too many cases to handle right now and can’t give yours the attention it needs. You want someone who answers and can give their full attention to your case rather than be spread too thin. 
• How have you handled a case like this before?: This question gives you a rough idea of what to expect from your lawyer. If they have handled a case like yours in the past and won that is a great sign that they know what they are talking about. If they never have handled a case like yours you may want to look elsewhere. However, just because they haven’t doesn’t mean they aren’t qualified. 

Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) Treatments

Unfortunately, there is not a cure for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) yet. However, there are treatments available that can reduce the extent of the brain damage. Here are some HIE treatments you may consider for your child.

• Therapeutic hypothermia. Therapeutic hypothermia, also known as brain cooling, can be performed within six hours of oxygen deprivation. During this treatment, a baby will be cooled down to a low temperature to allow the brain to recover from the injury. Medical professionals must carefully monitor the baby’s health through the therapy. Once the treatment is complete, the baby has to be rewarmed slowly.

• Physical therapy. It may be beneficial for some children with HIE to attend physical therapy. The therapy aims to improve a child’s fine and gross motor skills. It can also help improve strength, flexibility and range of motion.

• Speech therapy. Unfortunately, many children with HIE also develop speech problems. They may struggle to speak clearly and form words. In this situation, speech therapy may be helpful. A speech language pathologist can help your child improve communication skills through various methods.

• Recreational therapy. Recreational therapy may also be helpful for children with HIE and is considered highly enjoyable. The therapy includes fun activities, such as dance, horseback riding, swimming and music therapy.

• Behavioral therapy. It’s not uncommon for some children to develop behavioral problems from HIE. Fortunately, behavioral therapy may be able to help. During this type of therapy, a therapist may help reduce a child’s negative behaviors and encourage positive ones.
• Seizure medications. Some children who suffer HIE during birth may have seizures. Although watching your child go through a seizure can be a terrifying experience, they can be managed through medication. 

Why Choose Andersen & Linthorst?

Now that you understand how a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy lawyer can help you, you should learn more about the best HIE lawyer Medford OR has to offer. We at Andersen & Linthorst are not just any lawyers. We are compassionate, knowledgeable, and experienced. 

Our head HIE lawyer is Kelly L. Andersen. He has more than 40 years of experience litigating personal injury cases and defending the rights of Medford residents. Dedicated and committed, he’s admitted to oversee trials at the state and federal level. He’s proven that he’s undaunted by appeals because he’s litigated personal injury cases in the Oregon Court of Appeals and Oregon Supreme Court. In other words, you can trust that he will see your case through to the end. Some lawyers are quick to move onto the next case or even encourage you to accept a settlement. Andersen isn’t that kind. He wants to do what’s best for you and ensure your compensation is full. As compassionate as he is, rest assured he’ll fight aggressively on your behalf.

Furthermore, he’s worked out of more than just Oregon. His devotion to helping clients and seeing to it that negligent or malicious defendants compensate you for your losses have taken him to Hawai’i, California, and Washington, as well. Thus, it should come as no surprise that he’s the recipient of numerous prestigious awards. He’s received a top rating by Super Lawyers. In 2015, he was listed in Best Lawyers and made the Top Lawyer 2015 list. Just the year before, he was ranked in the top 1% of litigators, which he earned from Litigators Awards. 

Lastly, we have David Linthorst, a committed personal injury lawyer who loves serving the residents of Medford OR. 

To take advantage of your free consultation, please call us at 800-637-6622 or contact us online. For your convenience, we have an office in Grants Pass, OR and Klamath Falls OR. We’re also serving Ashland, OR. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call.

Seeking Damages

If you or your child suffers from HIE, it is more likely than not that medical negligence is the cause. If so, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. It’s never easy for parents to take care of a child who has a brain injury. Aside from the depression, mental anguish, and anxiety you’re bound to experience, it is a costly undertaking. Many Americans cannot afford to pay ten of thousands per year for speech therapy, behavioral therapy, recreational therapy, etc. Even hiring a babysitter or caretaker can cost more than the national average because you’ll want someone who’s familiar and comfortable with tending to a child with a brain injury condition. All things considered, you shouldn’t have to foot the bills for a doctor’s negligence.

In a medical malpractice case, you may seek compensatory damages for your economic and non-economic injuries (i.e., your emotional harm). A list of potential damages to include in a lawsuit are:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment
• Loss of society
• Lost earning capacity
• Humiliation
• Disfigurement
• Medical expenses
• Therapeutic expenses
• Caretaker expenses
• Funeral expenses

How a Lawyer Can Help

If your child suffered HIE during birth, he or she may require multiple medical treatments, which can get very expensive. You should not have to foot the bill. That is why it’s important to work with a skilled HIE lawyer. He or she can bring the medical professional who caused this to justice. A lawyer can help you gather the proper evidence to prove your case and locate expert witnesses to testify on your behalf.

When it comes to finding a lawyer you need to know that they have the experience and resources to handle your case. At Andersen & Linthorst you can know that you are in good hands when it comes to you finding a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) lawyer in Medford, OR. 

Reach out to Andersen & Linthorst today, and see how a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) lawyer in Medford, OR, can help you build a better tomorrow.

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"It was an absolute pleasure working with this team. They eased my anxiety every step of the way. They were all very professional, kind, understanding and knowledgeable. I would recommend them to anyone seeking help. Thank you all so much!"
Nichelle Laabs