Can I Sue a Physician for My Child’s Cerebral Palsy?
A Georgia woman has received a verdict in her favor after suing her hospital for birth injuries sustained by her daughter. According to the woman, nurses at Gwinnett Medical Center failed to accurately interpret information provided by medical equipment, leading to prolonged oxygen deprivation during the baby’s delivery. The mother alleged that the infant had severe brain damage, epilepsy and cerebral palsy as a result of oxygen deprivation.
The hospital attempted to fight the plaintiff by targeting one of her expert witnesses, a certified midwife, claiming that she was not fit to criticize the actions of the other nurses because she herself was not a nurse. The Court of Appeals in a 4-3 vote ruled that the midwife was, in fact, a registered nurse and thus had an equal stake as a witness.
Conditions like cerebral palsy, retinopathy of prematurity, hypoxia, anoxia, and encephalopathy can often be prevented with competent medical care. If the doctors in this woman’s case had delivered the baby via cesarean section, then perhaps the newborn daughter would not have lifelong debilitating birth injuries.
My Child Was Born With Cerebral Palsy. Is There Anything I Can Do?
Your child deserves the absolute best care that you can offer. Our Tampa Bay medical malpractice attorneys can help you determine if your doctor is at fault for your child’s birth injury. We have the resources and experience to bring your case against those at fault so that you can take better care of your child. Call our law office at (800) 258-HELP for a free consultation.
Shapiro Law Group – Medical Malpractice Attorneys Serving the Tampa Bay Area
Source: http://injurylawyer-news.com/2014/12/midwife-testifies-nurses-ga-birth-injury-case/
Did You Know?: The annual costs to society for medical errors in hospitals is $17 billion to $29 billion. (Institute of Medicine, To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System, 2000.)