A recently filed lawsuit alleges that a newborn sustained serious birth injuries because of medical malpractice at the Good Samaritan Regional Health Center. The suit, filed by the child’s mother, alleges that physicians failed to provide adequate care during the baby’s birth, which left her with brain injuries that have affected her ability to live a normal life.
The baby’s mother said physicians ignored several key warning signs during the child’s birth on Oct. 13, 2011. The attending doctor did not attach a monitoring electrode to the baby’s scalp during the birth, which prevented medical staff from recognizing warning signs of asphyxiation. Additional information was blatantly ignored during the birth, including indicators from the fetal heart rate monitor. Physicians did not notice important data that would have sped the birth process, and they spent too long delivering the girl.
As a result, the baby suffered from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, a condition that occurs when newborns’ bodies are starved of oxygen during the birth process.
The woman has alleged that the girl was disfigured as a result of the malpractice. She is seeking compensation for current and future mental anguish in connection with the case, and she also hopes to recover funds for medical costs. The girl’s serious condition ostensibly led to the accumulation of massive hospital bills, which may not have been covered by the woman’s insurance company.
The baby’s mother is seeking a judgment of nearly $700,000 along with costs associated with bringing the lawsuit. That money would be used to pay for outstanding medical bills and could possibly be allocated toward future treatment for the child. It is not clear whether the girl will require continued intensive medical care because of her condition, but the money could provide for future treatment. The funds could also compensate both the mother and her daughter for pain and suffering associated with the maltreatment.
Media reports have not indicated whether the attending physician has faced malpractice cases in the past.
Source: The Madison-St. Clair Record, “Doctor, hospital sued over child’s brain injury suffered at birth,” Kelly Holleran, Nov. 19, 2012