Category Archives: Birth Trauma

Mother Given Unneeded Drug during Birth Receives Payout from Negligent UK Hospital

In 2007, Portia Kupahurasa was admitted to the Doncaster Royal Infirmary to give birth to her son. However, Kupahurasa was given an intravenous drip during labor that contained the drug Syntocrin. This drug is commonly used to induce and help with delivery, but unfortunately it was not needed and caused Kapahurasa’s contractions to excessively strengthen. As a result, the force of her contractions deprived her baby, Darryl Munashe Kupahurasa, much-needed oxygen at birth. He was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a disability that affects his ability to walk, talk and process information. In a High Court ruling, Kupahurasa and her now 6-year-old son were awarded £2.45 million as well as annual payments that will increase as Munashe ages. A spokesperson for the National Health Service trust which paid for the hospital’s damages told BBC News, “We are deeply sorry for what happened and for the enormous impact it has had…
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8-Month-Old with Erb’s Palsy Denied Desperately Needed Treatment Because Of Parent’s Immigration Status

This BBC News video discusses the story of Sanika Ahmed, who was born in Portsmouth, England, and recently made international news after the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) denied the 8-month-old and her family a life-changing medical treatment. Ahmed has Erb’s palsy, which is slowly paralyzing her arm. Erb’s palsy is a disability caused by a birth injury to the brachial plexus, an important network of nerves that controls the functions of the hand, shoulder and arm. Early treatment of Erb’s palsy is crucial to halt progression of the condition and help individuals potentially regain lost movement. However, Ahmed will not be able to receive the nerve graft surgery needed to stop the paralysis of her arm due to her parent’s immigration status in the UK. While her father held a legal permit to work from the summer of 2008 to the fall of 2009, the family stayed illegally in…
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Texan Twins with Cerebral Palsy See Staying Active as Key in Overcoming Their Disability

Josh and his twin sister Jade are freshmen at Hudson High School, and like many other teenagers their age they are involved in numerous extra-curricular activities. Recently, Jade has been spending most of her time after school practicing for upcoming cheerleading tryouts, and Josh helps manage the high school’s basketball team. In their free time, Jade likes to go horseback riding and Josh has started experimenting with music production. The Alexander twins have come a long way after being born 12 weeks prematurely, KTRE-TV reported. With Josh weighing only two pounds and seven ounces and his sister weighing in at a little over one pound at birth, doctors did not expect either of them to live past 16 weeks. Nevertheless, they are strong fighters, and seem to be able to push through anything with an energetic attitude to match. However, the premature birth was only the beginning of their medical…
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