The birth of a child to any Wisconsin family should be one of life’s highlights, and when something goes wrong during the birth, it can be life-changing for the entire family. Sadly, birth injuries sometimes only become evident later when a child shows developmental and social problems. A jury in another state recently ruled in favor of a teenager who suffered brain injuries at birth. His parents filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor who handled the boy’s birth.
Court documents indicate that the plaintiffs accuse the doctor of negligence in not providing care of an acceptable standard. They contended that this was the mother’s first child, there were indications of a large baby, and it was determined that the child’s head was not in the proper position for normal birth. For these reasons, they argued the doctor should have ordered a Caesarian section rather than using instruments during the birthing process. The child apparently had multiple bruises and contusions after the birth.
The parents say the child appeared to develop normally at first, but the first signs of brain damage became evident when he was about 10 years old. Brain damage that will limit his abilities for the remainder of his life was diagnosed. The parents brought the lawsuit to obtain the financial relief to cover their child’s future medical care along with compensation for the fact that he will not likely be able ever to secure gainful employment. A total of $11.35 million was awarded by the jurors, making up both economic and non-economic damages.
Wisconsin parents who are in similar situations may have questions about the filing of medical malpractice lawsuits. Answers can be obtained from an experienced personal injury attorney who can assess the circumstances to determine the viability of such a suit. If there are grounds for a claim, the lawyer can advocate for the parents throughout the ensuing legal proceedings.
Source: ohio.com, “Summit jury awards $11.35 million in lawsuit involving Massillon boy with brain injury”, Stephanie Warsmith, Feb. 16, 2018
