Jury Awards $34.7M to Family of Permanently Disabled Newborn

Jury Awards $34.7M to Family of Permanently Disabled Newborn

Introduction

On Aug 16, 2021, the Baltimore jury awarded nearly $35 million to the family of the permanently disabled boy who had sued MedStar Harbor Hospital.

The boy was one of the twins born at MedStar Harbor Hospital in South Baltimore on Aug 19, 2007. The newborn baby had trouble breathing and, the medical negligence of the hospital caused brain injuries, which will keep him disabled for his entire life.

As per the lawsuit filed by the family, the boy was born almost a month early and initially had apneic, which is a condition that leads to a breathing problem. During delivery, the boy needed bag valve mask ventilation till he can breathe on his own.

After the delivery, the boy was at the Special Care Nursery ward of the hospital at 5 a.m. in healthy condition and can breathe at that time.

According to the lawsuit, the boy got an apneic episode around 5:15 a.m., where he was struggling to breathe. The hospital staff used blowby oxygen and other methods to cure his condition. At around 5:40 a.m., the boy's condition deteriorated further and, his oxygen readings markings were at dangerous levels.

Later that day, a CT scan of the boy at Johns Hopkins Hospital discovered that lack of oxygen supply during delivery has led to permanent brain injuries.

The boy, who is now 14, has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which requires round-the-clock care.

As per the family's attorney statement, the jury has agreed that the hospital was careless and did not take the newborn baby's condition seriously. The boy was left alone to breathe for several minutes. The staff received the alert of declining oxygen level but did not contact the on-call pediatrician till 5:40 in the morning. 

The jury awarded the family approximately $1.2M for past medical expenses, $1.4M in future lost earnings, while $32.2M is for medical expenses to incur in the future.