A doctor’s negligence can cause unprecedented harm in the delivery of a child, and the harm can last a lifetime. A jury considered this timeframe in Michigan on Tuesday when they awarded the family of a brain-damaged girl what might be the largest medical malpractice verdict in Michigan History.
The family of a 15-year old Markell VanSlembrouck, a quadriplegic girl resulting from a brain injury acquired at birth, was awarded $130 million in damages after a three-week trial where the family alleged negligence by the delivering doctor.
Markell was larger than expected from gestational diabetes, but rather than perform a cesarean, Dr. Andrew Halperin from Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak chose to induce vaginal delivery. The delivery resulted in a broken clavicle and brain damage. Quadriplegia followed, requiring round-the-clock care.
The VanSlembrouck’s attorney says the award represents the cost of caring for Markell through 2077 and her lost wages, and will be stored with a court-appointed conservator.
The size of the award is remarkable in itself, but it also demonstrates the huge financial strain that brain damage and birth defects in one individual can cost parents and society. Medical negligence should never be ignored.
Has your child been injured at birth and are you considering legal action?
Our birth trauma lawyers have a history of helping families who have been damaged by medical carelessness, and can help you get the compensation necessary to move on with your life.
Cappolino, Dodd, Krebs LLP – Birth trauma lawyers
