Personal Injury Law

$9.5 Million Settlement Reached in Cerebral Palsy Case

By Steven M. Levin and John J. Perconti

A medical malpractice victim has settled with an Illinois hospital, a nurse midwife and the nurse?s employer for a $9.5 million medical malpractice lawsuit. The victims had alleged that the hospital was a fault for causing their son?s cerebral palsy. The victim?s mother was admitted to the hospital in 1996 while she was in labor with her son. The nurse had failed to promptly get a doctor when the mother requested one upon experiencing complications. The Illinois judge and mediator agreed to the medical malpractice settlement and believed it was good for both sides. This case took place in an Elgin hospital. To read more about this medical malpractice settlement, please click the link.

In the United States alone, about 10,000 babies per year will develop cerebral palsy. About two-thirds of those children will be mentally impaired. One cause of cerebral palsy is birth injury or birth trauma. Medical negligence, such as careless handling of the child?s cranium or an undetected oxygen blockage in the child?s brain is a factor in cerebral palsy cases. There are two factors that can indicate potential dangers during prolonged labor. These include the baby getting ?stuck? in the birth canal with no oxygen supply. Also, if your water broke and your doctor didn?t make sure that you delivered within 24 hours you should alert someone immediately. If your child developed cerebral palsy as the result of medical negligence, consult a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer. To learn more facts about cerebral palsy, please check out the link.

Full post as published by Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog on April 17, 2010 (boomark / email).