Most women who file for medical negligence due to a birth injury or other birthing problem bring their suit against a hospital or other medical professional. Imka Pope, however, brings her medical negligence suit against the King County Jail, which allowed Pope to give birth alone, on the jail floor, 14 years ago. According to SeattlePi.com, Pope suffers from schizoaffective disorder. During a psychotic episode when she was off her medication, Pope fell asleep on a Metro bus bench. Police arrested the nine-months-pregnant Pope for trespassing, and six days later, she gave birth.
Documents show that only one person on staff in the jail noted that Pope appeared pregnant, and her lawyers state that officers and nurses made little effort to treat her schizoaffective disorder. Pope alleges that on the day she gave birth, she asked for help from the guards. However, guards decided that she was not in imminent danger and left. The guards returned to her only when they heard the cry of her newborn baby.
The lawyers for King County Jail state that Pope did not suffer any injuries and that her delivery was not complicated. Pope states that the baby has a severe heart defect and that he suffered neurological damage due to a lack of immediate medical care. No child should have to suffer the continual effects of birth injuries due to medical negligence.
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP–birth trauma attorney
