All Seattle parents hope their children are born healthy and happy, but some doctors make mistakes that can cause severe injuries during the birth process. When this occurs, it might be necessary to take legal action.
For example, an Illinois jury recently awarded over $100 million to the mother a 5-year-old boy who suffered severe brain damage during his birth in 2014. According to court documents, the mother told medical staff at Oak Park’s West Suburban Medical Center that she couldn’t feel her unborn baby moving during her six-hour labor. Ultrasound tests also indicated that the baby wasn’t moving.
At the trial, medical experts testified that a cesarean section would have prevented the boy’s injuries. However, doctors failed to perform the procedure. The boy is now unable to speak, walk or sit up without assistance. While the jury awarded $101 million in the case, attorneys for both parties agreed to a reduced settlement of $50 million if Tenet Healthcare, the owner of the hospital, promised not to appeal. In a statement, Tenet said it believed it provided appropriate care during the boy’s birth, but all parties agreed that ending the case and paying the settlement was in the best interests of the child.
When negligent doctors cause babies to suffer birth injuries, their parents can file a medical malpractice lawsuit seeking compensation for their losses. An attorney may assess the case, gather various evidence supporting the claim and file a lawsuit in civil court. If the suit is successful, the parents might be awarded a settlement that covers current and future medical bills, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of future income and other related damages. Parents may begin the lawsuit process by scheduling a consultation at a law firm that handles birth injury claims.
