Family Receives $5.3 Million Settlement in Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit

A New York family has received a $5.3 million settlement in a birth injury medical malpractice case against New York Presbyterian Hospital. According to Reuters, the mother of the child had visited the hospital several times for treatment while pregnant. She gave birth at 32 weeks and the child was diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. The family alleged that doctors did not take enough steps to make sure that the baby was not born prematurely.
A brain injury, such as cerebral palsy, is a condition that not only affects the child but also devastates a family. According to an NPR news report, babies who are born prematurely are often at a higher risk for brain damage than those who are born to term. Also, prenatal care is crucial to ensure a complication-free birth. A pregnant mother relies on the guidance of her doctor and other medical professionals during the process of caring for and nurturing her unborn baby. Women also look to their doctors to monitor and ensure that their pregnancy is moving along in a healthy manner. Any mistakes or misjudgments by medical professionals trusted with prenatal care could mean serious health problems for the mother and her child.
During the birthing process, the doctors and other medical professionals involved are considered to be the experts in their fields and are expected to provide high-quality care to their patients. At the time of the delivery of the baby, an error by the doctor or his or her staff could result in oxygen getting cut off to the baby’s brain. This can lead to irreversible brain damage. If it is determined that such a brain injury was caused by a medical professional’s incompetence or failure to provide proper diagnosis or care, the child’s family may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against the doctor and/or the hospital. If your child has suffered a birth injury, you may have a case depending on the cause of the injury.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical negligence in New York, the experienced New York medical malpractice attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. One of our clients recovered a $43,940,000 verdict for a child who suffered irreversible brain damage and cerebral palsy after the hospital failed to diagnose fetal distress. The cerebral palsy in that case was the result of lack of oxygen to the brain. Thereafter, an appeals court reduced this huge verdict to about $7 million. Another firm worked on this case with us. Please call our offices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: Reuters