Jury awards $11.5 million in medical malpractice

Preparing for a new baby can be a daunting task for any new Massachusetts parent. In addition to personalizing the nursery and making sure that everything is ready for the new arrival, there are decisions to be made regarding how to take care of the baby. Should the baby sleep in the crib or a bassinet to begin with; or should the baby be given a specific type of formula? One of the most important decisions new parents make is who will deliver the baby and where this will occur. These are the professionals that the parents are trusting to take care of baby and mother without any hint of medical malpractice.

In 2010, a baby being born began to have problems during his delivery. The doctor and midwife decided to use forceps to aid in the delivery. However, it appears that the forceps were not applied correctly, and the child now suffers from permanent brain damage as a result.

The parents filed suit against the doctor and hospital in 2012. A jury has recently agreed with the parents and awarded $11.5 million to assist in caring for the child for the duration of his life. In making their decision, the jury was presented with evidence of the misapplied forceps and seemingly altered records of the patient.

Childbirth is both exciting and traumatic for any new parent. The parents eagerly anticipate the arrival of their precious child. However, if something goes wrong and medical malpractice is to blame, the family may have recourse through the Massachusetts legal system.

Source: omaha.com, “Jury awards $11.5 million to Omaha couple in medical malpractice lawsuit over child’s birth“, Russell Hubbard, Oct. 28, 2016