Jury Awards $31 Millio To Family Of Newborn With Brain Damage

In case an expectant mother who has previously given birth via a C-section gives birth to another child by a vaginal deliver there is an increased chance that she will sustain a ruptured uterus while in labor. In these cases the unborn child’s much needed oxygen supply, which is normally received by the placenta, can become restricted. When this continues for an extended interval of time the unborn child may sustain brain damage and be left with significant lasting disabilities.

Examine a published lawsuit regarding a pregnant woman who went to the hospital for a planned vaginal delivery of her child. She had a C-section in a prior pregnancy. But, the nurse gave her a drug frequently employed to induce labor. The application of this drug , however, needs to be diligently followed for the reason that it can result in overstimulation of the uterus and turn into a significant complication especially at greater dosages. The nurse failed to tell the physician that the expectant mother developed an unusual pattern of contraction. Rather, even though the contractions increased to clearly unsafe levels, the nurse kept applying greater quantities of the drug.

The expectant mother suffered a uterine rupture. The unborn baby was in fetal distress. The child was deprived of oxygen for 18-20 minutes as a consequence of which he sustained a brain injury. He has severe cerebral palsy. He is unable to walk or to talk. He is unable to hold anything in his hands. He is unable to eat on his own and requires a feeding tube. He can, though, recognize members of his family and is alert. But he will require 24/7 life assistance. The law firm that represented the child and his parents published that at trial the jury returned an award of $31,000,000 with included $26,000,000 to pay for the cost of the child’s future medical care.

As this lawsuit shows nurses and hospital staff need to be able to figure out if complications arise during a pregnancy. They also need to know and understand the consequences and danger signs of the medications they give, and inform the doctor about any symptoms that suggest there is a problem developing. Whether the result of a lack of training, inexperience, overwork, or communication breakdowns, a failure in any (or as in this case all) of these areas can lead to devastating injuries to the baby. If this occurs the family might be able to bring a lawsuit for malpractice. As this case likewise reveals - such lawsuits, due to the type and extent of the injury to the baby, can lead to a significant recovery.