Jeff Merrick, JD, LLM
Attorney at Law

Merrick Law Firm

Fighting for your legal right to monetary compensation.

1-800-970-5327
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Anoxic / Hypoxic Brain Injury


The brain needs oxygen continuously; it cannot store it. And the brain needs a lot of oxygen. The brain uses 15% to 20% of the body's output of oxygen, even though it constitutes only about 3% of the total body weight.

Anoxic Brain Injury happens when oxygen is cut off, such as when the heart stops or when there is a near-drowning accident. Anoxia is the total absence of oxygen.

Hypoxia refers to a shortage of oxygen to the brain, such as when someone suffers cardiac arrest and cardio pulmonary resuscitation provides less than the necessary amount of oxygen.

A too-common cause of Anoxic / Hypoxic Brain Injury is anesthesia accidents or hospital and medical malpractice. Although anesthesia is common, it is a very dangerous and complex undertaking. If the anesthetist is not very careful about the drugs used and does not scrupulously monitor the patient during surgery, the heart and or lungs can be anesthetized, causing cardio-pulmonary arrest. A doctor's accidental injection into the vein (instead of tissue) of certain drugs also can cause the heart to stop, leading to anoxic or hypoxic brain injury.

Other causes of anoxic brain injury include near drownings, near suffocation or strangulation, and drug overdoses.

It is important to get the help you need right away because after about 12 months, it is unlikely that the injured person's brain will recover any further from anoxic brain injury.

I would be pleased to talk with you (for free) about your situation, so long as it is an Oregon matter. 
503-665-4234; 1-800-970-5327

 

 

 
 
 
© 2007 by Jeff Merrick, P.C. This website is not legal advice. Merely contacting us does not establish an attorney-client relationship.  We do not solicit clients other than those with Oregon cases.  We serve all Oregon cities including:  Portland, Gresham, Fairview, Troutdale, Hood River, The Dalles, Tigard, Tualatin, Eugene, Salem, Keizer, Woodburn, Wilsonville, Beaverton, Sherwood, Hillsboro, Forest Grove, McMinnville, Dallas, Newberg, Bend, Redmond, Corvallis, Springfield, Lake Oswego, West, Linn, Oregon City, Gladstone, Milwaukie, Canby, Albany, Lebanon, Ashland, Klamath Falls, Roseburg, Medford, Grants Pass, Sutherlin, Coos Bay, Central Point, Lincoln City, Newport, St. Helens, Scappoose, Astoria, Baker City, Pendleton, Hermiston, John Day, Canyon City, Burns, Ontario.  We serve all Oregon counties, including: Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Klamath, Columbia, Clatsop, Yamhill, Lincoln, Coos, Columbia, Linn, Lane, Polk, Benton, Marion, Malheur, Harney, Baker and Umatilla.