Childbirth is supposed to be a wondrous and happy occasion that completes a family. It is supposed to make two parents elated in ways they have never felt before, and the medical process of delivering a baby is supposed to be a highly protected procedure that ensures the safe and healthy delivery of the child.
Unfortunately, we don’t live in a world where both of these things are always true. And the following story exemplifies that notion.
Though it occurred outside of Georgia, the story is still very important. The case involves a 6-year-old girl who was born in Delaware County. Delaware County Memorial Hospital, the Crozer-Keystone Health System, and the doctor responsible for the birth were all sued by the family of the 6-year-old because she suffered paralysis from the mid-chest down due to a botched delivery.
According to the lawsuit, the girl was in the “footling breech position” prior to delivery. This means that the baby comes out feet first. What the lawsuit alleged is that the doctor failed to protect the head and neck area of the baby as the procedure was performed, thus causing the spinal injury that left the now 6-year-old girl paralyzed.
The lawsuit was recently finalized, with an astounding $40.3 million judgement being awarded. It is considered one of the largest awards in the county’s history, and it is a message that shows medical malpractice is unacceptable.
Source: The Inquirer, “$40M to Delco girl with spinal injury in medical malpractice case,” Dan Spinelli, Jan. 25, 2018
