$3.75M Birth Injury Award in Illinois

One of the largest birth injury and medical malpractice awards involving a state hospital in some time was recently handed down in an Iowa court room among the largest involving malpractice at the state-owned hospital in recent years.

The AP reported that Iowa recently agreed to settle the birth injury case that had originally been filed by Jonathon and Martha Fountain and pay them a $3.75 million settlement. The birth injury lawsuit was originally filed against University of Iowa hospital following the Fountain’s 2007 birth of their son.

After arriving at the hospital for what seemed to be a routine pregnancy, then-20-year-old Martha Fountain was given Pitocin, a medication that has since been linked to excessive contractions and prolonged deliveries in some patients. Doctors eventually realized that Fountain’s contractions were too frequent and strong, but continued to give her the medication anyway.

Following a 28-hour labor, the situation was eventually rectified when Fountain’s so was born through a C-section. However, while the mother had been experiencing the strong contractions, the baby had difficulties descending through the birth canal. As a result, the newborn suffered "significant trauma" to the head and a lack of blood flow to the baby's brain, leaving him developmentally disabled and suffering from a number of serious health conditions, including cerebral palsy.

Under the settlement, Iowa will pay the Fountains $2 million upfront, while the remaining $1.75 million will be invested and paid out in monthly installments to pay for costs relating to their son’s care over the next 55 years.

If you or a loved one has a child who was born with cerebral palsy, or any other type of birth injury, that can be linked to medical error, there are legal options at your disposal. Call Sokolove Law today to learn more about pursuing a birth injury lawsuit. For legal help, call (800) 581-6358.

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