Mother and Child Each Awarded Damages in Birth Injury Case
Birth injury lawsuits are filed primarily to hold medical providers financially responsible for the injuries and long-term limitations suffered by a child who is born disabled. A birth injury claim can also be filed if the alleged medical negligence during childbirth results in the death of the child. In either case, there is almost always additional physical or psychological harm that can be suffered by the child’s mother, as well as by other family members, as a result of the child’s injuries. To help accident victims deal with this reality, a Maryland medical malpractice lawsuit can be filed on behalf of multiple plaintiffs. It is therefore possible for the families of birth injury victims to receive compensation for the physical, psychological, and financial burdens of a birth injury on all parties affected by the doctor’s malpractice.
Woman Awarded $9.6 Million Verdict for Injuries and Emotional Trauma Relating to the Birth of Her Child
A substantial medical malpractice verdict was recently handed down by a federal judge in California. The case was based on the plaintiff’s 2013 birth injury claim, which was brought against the delivering physician as well as the hospital where the birth occurred. According to a recent news report discussing the ruling, the woman sued after giving birth to a severely disabled child under the care of the defendant hospital. The court ruled that the doctor was negligent in that he waited too long to perform a cesarean section to deliver the plaintiff’s baby, preventing the child from getting an adequate supply of oxygen and causing a brain injury.
The Doctor Should Have Reacted More Quickly to the Patient’s Symptoms
The judge found that there were early signs and symptoms that a cesarean section would be necessary for this birth, and the doctor should have noticed them much earlier and could have prevented the birth injury had he done so. The total amount awarded was $9.6 million, but not all of it was designated to compensate the family for the disabled child. Some $250,000 of the award was designated to compensate the mother for the emotional distress that she suffered during the delivery.
Should You Discuss Your Case With an Attorney?
If you or a loved one needs legal advice regarding a possible birth injury claim, the experienced Maryland medical malpractice and birth injury attorneys at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman can help you seek all of the damages that you deserve. Our dedicated malpractice attorneys take each of our cases seriously, and with our expertise you can feel comfortable with your representation. We focus our practice on birth injuries and medical malpractice, and we would love to hear about your case today. Contact the qualified Maryland and Washington, D.C. birth injury attorneys at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman. Call us at (410) 567-0800 or contact us through our website to schedule a free initial consultation.
