Some of the most devastating cases of medical errors or medical malpractice are those that affect newborn babies. Soon-to-be parents will often do whatever they can to ensure their unborn child is as healthy and safe as possible, but one mistake or misstep during or immediately following delivery can result in permanent damage to the baby.
That was the tragic situation that a family faced when a boy was born with cerebral palsy, vision problems and other conditions that will dramatically affect the rest of his life. It is possible that all of this could have been prevented had there not been instances of medical negligence during the delivery.
According to reports, the mother was admitted to the hospital numerous times before the birth because she was going into labor. Each time, the labor was stopped in an attempt to avoid the dangers of the baby being born too early. However, the woman’s water broke less than a week after she was discharged from the hospital for the third time and the decision was made to perform a cesarean section to deliver the baby. The mother requested that she deliver as soon as possible after being admitted to the hospital.
But the woman’s doctor delayed the procedure claiming that the baby was healthy; as long as he was healthy, there was no reason to rush into delivery. Sadly, the situation took a devastating turn when the baby suffered a massive brain hemorrhage. Still, the emergency caesarian section would not occur for more than three hours.
A jury recently awarded the young boy, who is now 11, and his mother $14.5 million for the medical negligence that contributed to his birth injuries. The damages awarded in this particular case are intended to compensate the family for future care costs, pain and suffering, and economic losses the family has already experienced.
Source: The Plain Dealer, “Garfield Heights boy and mother awarded $14.5 million in malpractice case,” Karen Farkas, June 13, 2014
