Parents of a child born with Erb’s Palsy filed a lawsuit naming the United States of America as the culprit behind the medical negligence that led to their son’s birth injuries. The lawsuit is seeking $12 million in damages after the federally-managed Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida, Inc. committed negligence during the mother’s pregnancy and delivery.
The mother of the child was diagnosed with Type II diabetes at the age of 11 and was at a heightened risk of gestational diabetes due to her small stature and above average weight gain during pregnancy. Labor was induced at 38 weeks when she weighed 200 pounds at 4’8’’ tall.
The delivery of the baby showed the possibility of severe metabolic acidosis caused by lack of oxygen during delivery. The baby weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces after birth in comparison to the 7 pounds 12 ounces the pre-birth sonogram showed.
The child was in a NICU center for 26 days, frequently experiencing seizures among other health issues. The plaintiffs claim that the medical staff was not following the standard protocol during birth. This situation may have been avoided through a C-section rather than vaginal delivery.
The parents are seeking $10 million in damages for the ongoing medical treatment of their son and $2 million for the pain and suffering that the family is experiencing.
It is devastating when your child is injured due to poorly trained or negligent medical staff. If your baby was born with cerebral or Erb’s palsy, contact the birth injury attorneys at the Driscoll Firm. Our compassionate and experienced attorneys are prepared to find compensation for the damages you sustained. Call (800) 900-7704 today for more information about how we can help you.