All patients who go to the hospital for routine reasons expect to leave the hospital safe and sound. This is especially true for women who trust hospitals to guide them through childbirth. Medical errors do happen, though, and when they do, the results can be life-altering. This is what happened at the University of California Davis Medical Center, which has now resolved a case with a multi-million dollar settlement, according to a news report.
A family had originally asked for $15 million after their daughter was born with brain damage caused by errors during the labor process. The complaint alleged that the hospital allowed the mother to remain in labor for several hours even though its doctors knew that the process could be dangerous for the child. A caesarian-section, it seems, would have alleviated the problems.
The hospital took responsibility for the complications, and agreed to a $9 million settlement that will help the family to cover their young daughter’s medical bills going forward. The family will also obtain some money to cover its pain and suffering, though those awards are capped at only $250,000 in California.
People who go to the hospital deserve to receive medical care that lives up to industry standards. When doctors, nurses, and other hospital personnel fail to provide a high level of care, some patients and their families end up suffering long-term consequences. That is why medical malpractice lawyers are out there ready to provide victims with representation that can help them seek justice.
Source: Fox40, “UC Hospital Settles Medical Malpractice Lawsuit For $9 million,” Lonnie Wong, Sept. 29, 2013
