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Court Awards $31 Million to Parents of Child with Cerebral Palsy

Recently, an Ohio jury awarded $31 million to the family of a child afflicted with cerebral palsy. This was the result of a birth injury lawsuit that the family filed against the hospital where their child was born. The parents believed that the hospital's negligence caused the child's cerebral palsy.

When birth trauma results in brain injury, cerebral palsy can be the result. This condition can cause coordination problems ranging from mild to severe. Though treatable, cerebral palsy is incurable.

This particular case came about because the infant, Leondo Stanziano, suffered oxygen deprivation for 18-20 minutes. As a result, he suffered brain damage and developed cerebral palsy.

The oxygen deprivation occurred as a result of the mother's ruptured uterus. The hospital staff apparently knew that the mother was at increased risk of a ruptured uterus, but failed to take any preventative action.

In addition, they allegedly gave her a labor-inducing drug called Pitocin after her uterus showed signs of being over-stimulated. The Pitocin likely caused the uterus to rupture, resulting in Leondo Stanziano's oxygen deprivation.

The lawsuit's $31 million award is believed to be the biggest in Ohio's history.

No amount of compensation can make up for the pain of an injured child, but it can help pay for the necessary medical bills associated with the child's medical treatment. This is particularly true in cases involving cerebral palsy, in which the victim may need considerable medical aid for the rest of his or her life.

Birth injuries may require long-term or even life-long medical care for your child. If you believe medical malpractice may have resulted in your child's birth injuries, contact an experienced Louisville birth injury attorney at Gray and White Law at (502) 637-6000 or (800) 637-6033 for advice regarding your child's Kentucky birth injury case.

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