Recently, a jury awarded a 6-year-old girl $40.3 million in a birth injury case. According to the lawsuit, the girl’s spinal cord was injured during her delivery, leaving her unable to stand on her own. At date of delivery, the child presented in the breech position, requiring her feet to be delivered first. The doctor who delivered the girl allegedly failed to property protect the baby’s head and neck, leading to lifelong paralysis and weekly therapy. Despite the risks involved whenever a child presents in a breech position, the family of the girl offered evidence at trial that the obstetrician lacked the training and qualifications to undertake such a complicated procedure. They also asserted that he was aggressive in doing so. The award included amounts for future medical care, as well as pain and suffering.
While the vast majority of deliveries occur without incident, when complications arise expectant parents rely on their medical team to act within the standard of care to ensure the best outcome. Although not all risks can be eliminated, where a doctor acts negligently or recklessly, and the mother or child is injured, it may be possible to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit. Often, birth injuries require a lifetime of care, and the costs may be exorbitant. Here, the damage award will help ensure the girl obtains the care she needs and deserves.
For more information, or if you or a loved one was harmed by medical malpractice, please contact the dedicated Los Angeles medical malpractice lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.