Why the term neonatal encephalopathy should be preferred over neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

The unresponsiveness of the full-term newborn is sometimes attributed to asphyxia, even when no severe physiologic disturbance occurred during labor and delivery. The controversy about whether to use the name hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy or newborn encephalopathy has recently flared in publications directed toward pediatricians and neurologists. In this clinic opinion piece, I discuss the importance to obstetricians of this decision and explain why newborn encephalopathy should be the default term.