There is always the possibility of medical malpractice happening during delivery. Birth injuries can happen in the blink of an eye.
This case was heartbreaking and resulted in the birth of a severely brain damaged baby. The little boy had a bright future ahead of him and just had to be born to realize it. His mom went to hospital in the early hours of the morning in the initial stages of labor. Testing indicated the baby was normal and healthy.
Eight hours later the baby’s heart rate dropped from 140 beats per minute to 60 beats per minute. The labor and delivery nurses did not call the doctor. When he arrived 22 minutes later, he waited for about an hour before he ordered an emergency C-section.
They discovered that the drop in heart rate was caused by a compressed umbilical cord, which resulted in a profound lack of oxygen for the baby. The baby was severely brain damaged and will require full time care for the rest of his life. The medical malpractice lawsuit award in this case was $8.5 million, as the child, now 5 years old, cannot see, walk, hold his head up or eat without being fed through a straw. The named defendants were the doctor, the medical center, a delivery room nurse and her supervisor. Part of this award, $2.5 million, was earmarked as damages for pain and suffering. This is hardly what anyone would call a frivolous lawsuit.
Birth injuries can happen in the blink of an eye, as this reported case demonstrates. If this is something that has happened to you, you will want to discuss your case with an experienced Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer. It is important for families dealing with birth injuries to have someone be held responsible for those injuries. Contact a knowledgeable Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer and find out what about your options and rights.
Christopher Mellino is a Cleveland Malpractice Lawyer specializing in Cleveland Medical Malpractice cases in Ohio. To learn more, visit Christophermellino.com.
