Baltimore Birth Hypoxia Lawyers

The Lasting Effects of Birth Asphyxia

Hypoxia birth injuries, also known as birth asphyxia, can cause severe, long-lasting lung, heart, muscle, and brain damage for a child. Hypoxia is a state in which oxygen is not available in acceptable amounts at the tissue level to support sufficient homeostasis; this can result from inadequate oxygen delivery to the tissues either due to low blood supply or low oxygen content in the blood (hypoxemia). Lack of oxygen can be identified with a low Apgar score, a system that doctors use to rate a baby’s skin color, reflexes, muscle tone, breathing, and heart rate at birth. Although birth injuries due to oxygen deprivation can vary, the amount of harm to the baby depends on the amount of time the baby lacked oxygen, the baby’s level of oxygen at birth, and how fast proper medical treatment is administered.

According to recent studies, it was revealed that even mild oxygen deprivation at birth can have long-lasting effects on babies. In addition to lung, heart, and muscle issues, hypoxia can cause seizures, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems for the rest of the child’s life. Babies who don’t get enough oxygen at birth are at a much higher risk of developing disabilities including epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and long-term intellectual disabilities. In studies that followed affected babies with mild and severe oxygen deprivation for five years, results showed higher rates of lower IQ scores, poor memory, delayed speech, attention deficit disorder, autism, and dyspraxia. Premature babies who suffer oxygen deprivation are especially vulnerable to developmental delays, cerebral palsy, and attention deficit disorder (ADHD). Unfortunately, the list of potential harm caused by oxygen deprivation is endless. If your child has been affected by a birth injury and you believe the physicians responsible for you and your child demonstrated some form of medical malpractice, you may have a birth injury claim. Contact our skilled Baltimore birth hypoxia lawyer today to discuss your case and determine the next steps forward.

What Happens When a Baby Is Deprived of Oxygen?

When a baby is deprived of oxygen during birth, they could suffer lasting birth injuries and even wrongful death. It’s critical that the brain and other organs receive oxygen to properly function, without oxygen, cells will begin to die within a few minutes. When brain cells die, they cannot be replaced or replenished. Dead brain cells actually cause more problems in the affected area of the brain and can lead to complications and impairments. These birth injuries occur when the area begins receiving oxygenated blood again. Many babies who suffer oxygen deprivation at birth develop lasting disabilities or organ damage. Birth injuries from Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) can include the following:

• Cerebral palsy
• Autism spectrum disorders
• Epilepsy
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Learning delays
• Behavioral problems
• Low vision
• Hearing loss
• Heart or lung damage
• Impaired circulation
• Kidney damage
• Liver damage

The doctors and hospital staff will need to act quickly to deliver and resuscitate the infant, evaluate their medical needs, and offer any treatment necessary to prevent further injuries. This could include medication, breathing support, hypothermia therapy, or even extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the most severe cases.

What Are the Symptoms of Oxygen Deprivation in a Newborn?

In most cases, babies who suffer moderate to severe oxygen deprivation at birth tend to have low Apgar scores at one minute and possibly five minutes after birth, as well. These evaluations measure the child’s ability to tolerate labor and delivery and adapt to life outside the womb. But was is the Apgar test? The acronym Apgar stands for:

• Appearance
• Pulse
• Grimace
• Activity
• Respiration

A healthy baby generally has an Apgar score between 7 and 10, with 10 being the highest possible score. On the other hand, babies who experience oxygen deprivation at birth may score 6 or below on these assessments, especially at one minute after birth. In serious cases, babies who have been denied oxygen will require resuscitation or intubation to ensure they receive the oxygen necessary. The Apgar score is just one of the many ways to identify oxygen deprivation, a deeper investigation will help uncover if this could have been prevented. If you believe your baby was subjected to injury as a result of poor medical care, you may have a birth injury claim. Call our office today and asked to speak with one of our qualified Baltimore hypoxia attorneys today.

Proving Negligence for Birth Injury from Oxygen Deprivation

It’s true, not everything that goes wrong medically is a result of medical malpractice, in fact, most claims of medical malpractice are untrue. However, this does not mean that birth injuries caused by malpractice are not common. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released a study showing that 7 in every 1,000 children will suffer from a birth injury. The doctors and nurses that care for mothers and infants have the duty to do everything in their power to ensure that their patients receive the best care possible and remain safe throughout the birthing process. They can be held liable if they fail to provide care that meets the basic standards of their profession, such as failing to recognize and respond to signs of a complication during birth. To win your lawsuit for birth injury due to oxygen deprivation, you and your Baltimore hypoxia birth injury lawyer would have to prove the following:

• The defendants owed you a duty of care
• They breached this duty by actions or failure to act
• This breach caused the oxygen deprivation that injured your child
• This resulted in damages to the child