Twelve-year-old Roisin Conroy sued obstetrician John Corristine of Midland Regional Hospital for birth trauma suffered in 2001. Roisin has dykinetic cerebral palsy. She communicates only with her eyes and requires a wheelchair for mobility. As such, she sued the doctor through her mother, Mary Conroy. The family won €2.6 million, an apology, and an admission of liability.
Corristine’s apology read, “I am instructed by the defendants and it is a term of the settlement to express their sincere apologies for the failings that caused injuries to Roisin Conroy and the consequential trauma experienced by Roisin and her family. They understand that neither this apology nor the financial compensation granted by the Court can negate the continuing heartache that the Conroy family must feel every day and appreciate that this continues to be a very difficult time for them.”
Mary Conroy’s birth to Roisin was fraught with negligence. When she initially sensed that her water had broken she went to the hospital; however, she was discharged and told to return home. After three days, she visited Corristine for an ultra sound and demanded admittance to the hospital to give birth. The doctors’ initial tests revealed no history of contractions. They suggested that she take a warm bath and take a certain medication. Unfortunately, there was no hot water in the hospital and Corristine never returned with the medication. Roisin was born with a sickly affect and experienced seizures.
Taking care of Roisin became a full-time job for both parents. Given their unemployment, it became impossible to provide the care and therapy necessary for Roisin to develop healthily. Her father stated, “Roisin needs 24-hour care, but she gives us back so much. It just tears our hearts to think what might have been for her. This settlement won’t change this but it will at least give us the comfort that Roisin will be properly cared for, even beyond our lifetimes.” The money from the settlement will be used to deliver Roisin “the specialist care and therapy she needs and deserves,” he continued.
My Child Developed Cerebral Palsy Due to Hospital Negligence. What Can I Do?
Cerebral palsy considerably alters the emotional and financial landscape of the caretaking family. Parents must bear the burden of expensive therapies; children often face social exclusion in school and discrimination in the workplace once they come of age. When doctor or hospital negligence results in cerebral palsy, it is often necessary to seek financial compensation.
If your child experienced birth trauma, we can help. For more information or to speak with one of our birth injury attorneys, contact us. To schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our attorneys, call our firm at 1 (800) 460-0606.
[Did You Know: Taking care of someone with cerebral palsy is estimated to cost an average of $43,431 per year.]
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP – Birth Injury Attorneys
Source: http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/hse-apologises-disabled-roisin-conroy-2854244, https://www.cerebralpalsy.org.au/what-is-cerebral-palsy/facts-about-cerebral-palsy/
