Women here in Oregon and around the country have numerous options when it comes to the birthing experience. Natural births, water births and home births are all popular alternatives to the traditional hospital setting. There are always risks to consider since no two births are identical; however, one risk that many women might not consider is hospital negligence.
After having three children at the same hospital, one woman from another state decided to have her fourth child at another medical facility. The allure of a natural birth — possibly a water birth — drew her to the facility. When it came time to have the baby, however, the process did not go as she planned. She claims that she was forced to lay on her back. In fact, she says that she was held down.
As the baby crowned, a nurse delayed the delivery by putting pressure on the baby’s head, and the infant suffered damage to the nerves that run through the pelvic region. The official diagnosis was Pudendal Neuralgia. The debilitating condition means that the child is almost constantly in pain. The child’s parents claimed that the Arizona facility was guilty of fraud and negligence, and a jury agreed. The family was awarded approximately $16 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
Having a child should be one of the most exciting and joyous occasions of a parent’s life. When hospital negligence occurs, whether in Oregon or elsewhere, that joy and excitement can quickly turn to fear and panic. When a child is denied a normal life through the fault of medical personnel, those responsible may be held accountable for their actions. A successful medical malpractice claim could provide the necessary monetary restitution to care for a permanently injured child, and it could also help ensure that other families will not suffer the same fate.
Source: tucsonnewsnow.com, “Couple awarded $16 million against Brookwood Medical Center”, Lydia Hu, Aug. 7, 2016