Orland Park Infant Hypoxia Injury Lawyers

Lawyers for Lack of Oxygen Birth Injuries in Tinley Park

Lack of oxygen is a leading factor in birth injuries that result in lifelong medical issues. Perinatal hypoxia, which is a reduction in oxygen to the brain and other organs of a child during childbirth, can lead to cerebral palsy or other medical conditions. In fact, the U.S. National Institutes of Health say perinatal hypoxia and perinatal asphyxia combine for nearly one-third of all neonatal deaths in the U.S.

Medical staff should always take steps to prevent hypoxia, and failure to do so may be considered medical negligence. A birth injury attorney at Schwartz Injury Law can work with you to determine if that was the case for your child.

What Causes Hypoxia?

Smoking during pregnancy and maternal anemia can lead to hypoxia, as can doctor-induced brain injury, birth asphyxia, and deficient fetal monitoring.

Potential forms of medical negligence that can cause hypoxia and related injuries include:

• The misuse of forceps or an extraction vacuum, which can lead to infant brain damage.
• A prolapsed or pinched umbilical cord, which may cause a total cutoff of oxygen-rich blood if not handled quickly and properly.
• Insufficient heart rate monitoring, which can cause medical staff to miss signs of oxygen deprivation.
• Failure to provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy for a child who stops breathing.

If you believe medical error contributed to your child's hypoxia, the attorneys at Schwartz Injury Law will pursue a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the injury and help you secure compensation from those responsible. Previous settlements and judgments for our clients include $8 million for a child who developed cerebral palsy due to a delay in delivery, and $6 million for another child who suffered a birth injury.

Medical Problems Caused by Hypoxia

Along with cerebral palsy, perinatal hypoxia can cause hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), also known as intrapartum asphyxia, which is a brain injury that occurs in 20 of every 1,000 full-term births and in 60 percent of premature baby births, according to the Florida Neonatal Neurologic Network. Mild cases might not cause permanent damage, but severe instances can result in developmental and cognitive delays.

If medical malpractice contributed to hypoxia-related problems for your child, Schwartz Injury Law can represent you in a birth injuries lawsuit to secure compensation for short- and long-term expenses such as:

• Hospital and doctor visits, treatments, and medications.
• Physical, occupational, and rehabilitative therapy.
• Necessary in-home additions like ramps or rails.
• Special education, therapy, and counseling.
• Lost wages if a parent must provide full-time care.

With Illinois birth injury claims, lawsuits must be filed within eight years of a child’s injury, and they cannot be made after the child's 22nd birthday.

Contact a Tinley Park Birth Injury Lawyer

Expenses related to serious birth injuries have only begun once you leave the hospital. These costs can have a long-lasting or permanent impact on your family. If your child's injuries resulted from medical error, Schwartz Injury Law will fight for the compensation you deserve to protect your future. Contact our Orland Park medical malpractice attorneys at 708-888-2160 for a free consultation.