A jury just awarded $35.4 million to a woman who became paralyzed from a stroke she suffered just hours following birth. According to the medical malpractice lawsuit, an MRI and CAT scan revealed that the woman had brain abnormalities that required her name to be placed on a special list of patients that would be accessible to other doctors. However, the woman's doctor failed to place her name on the list.
Several years later, when the woman became pregnant, her obstetrician was left unaware of brain condition because her name was not in the data base. As a result, the obstetrician lacked crucial information regarding the woman's condition and allowed her to go into labor, which was dangerous for someone with this brain condition. Several hours following delivery, the woman suffered a massive stroke, leaving her completely paralyzed except for movement in her right arm. Had he had the information, and ordered a cesarean section, it may have been possible to prevent the stroke.
She was unable to return to work as a school teacher and has difficulty speaking. The money will go toward improving the woman's quality of life and paying for the couples nearly insurmountable medical bills.
When doctors fail to follow the appropriate standard of care, and a patient is harmed, the consequences may last a lifetime. For more information, or if you believe you or a loved one has been harmed as the result of medical malpractice, please contact the experienced California medical malpractice attorneys at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for an immediate consultation.