Recently, a mother was awarded $100.2 million in a medical malpractice birth injury lawsuit. A jury found that the failure by doctors, nurses and other hospital staff failed to take appropriate actions during the mother’s labor and delivery. Evidence presented during trial led the jury to conclude that due to the failure of staff to communicate that the baby was exhibiting signs of distress and take prompt action, the child suffered oxygen deprivation, and was born with irreversible brain damage.
According to reports, the mother was admitted to the hospital at 34 weeks with complaints that the baby was not moving as he normally did. However, staff failed to monitor the boy, and failed to call a doctor.
Communication failures are one of the leading causes of medical malpractice, across all practices areas including obstetrics and gynecology.. This may include lapses in communication between staff and doctors, staff/doctors and patients, and errors in diagnoses.
Here, both ultrasound results and the mother’s own verbal history showed indicated that the baby had not moved for six hours during labor. However, medical staff ignored these warning signs. Had the mother had an emergency Cesarean Section, the severity of the child’s brain damage could have been lessened or even prevented. Unfortunately calls for aid were ignored, the suit alleged. The child suffered a permanent brain injury leaving him unable to walk, talk, or sit up on his own.
The funds will help the family provide care for the child for the rest of his life.
For more information, or if you suspect that you or a loved one has been harmed by negligent medical care, please contact the experienced California birth injury lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.