A Maryland jury awarded a woman a record $229.6 million earlier this month after she claimed that her daughter suffered brain injuries during birth due to medical malpractice. 
According to the Baltimore Sun, the jury award is the largest medical malpractice award in the history of the United States, although it was capped at just over $200 million due to state laws.
The mother claimed in her lawsuit against Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center that about five years ago, she was told by doctors that her baby would die or suffer brain damage as a result of her suffering from high blood pressure from preeclampsia. Her attorneys argued that this was incorrect.
According to the news outlet, the woman decided to forgo a cesarean section and the baby suffered brain injuries. The woman’s lawsuit claimed that child should have been delivered via C-Section and that the child suffered from a lack of oxygen during the delivery.
The child has cerebral palsy, which impacts her muscle control throughout the body and requires round-the-clock care. The healthcare provider tried to unsuccessfully argue that the child sustained injuries when the woman refused a C-Section. For further information, you can click on the source link below.
The verdict is making waves in Maryland, as lawmakers have proposed bills in the past that would require healthcare providers to pay into a state fund for children who suffer injuries at birth.
Delivery Delays Can Lead to Brain Injuries
As this case allegedly shows, brain damage during birth can occur due to delays in medical care, or the failure of doctors and nurses to properly monitor a child or take notes. Your doctor has a duty to accurately inform you of complications during the delivery process that may result in decisions made to help the baby.
If your child has sustained an injury due to the negligence of a healthcare provider, our Ryan Krebs, M.D., J.D., is uniquely qualified to handle medical malpractice cases.
For a free discussion about your case, call 1-(800)-460-0606.
