Birth Injuries Caused by Medical Negligence

Negligent care at one of the largest mental hospitals in Florida is the likely cause of a number of birth injuries that has a child clinging to life, according to a recently released report on the troubling situation.

According to the report, which was released by the inspector general of the Department of Children & Families, the 34-year-old mother-to-be was being treated at Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee when she began frantically telling attendants that she was about to give birth and needed to get to a hospital. Thinking that she was only 28 weeks pregnant, caregivers ignored her requests and even hung up on an emergency dispatcher the woman managed to contact by herself by rationalizing to the dispatcher that “This is a mental hospital…. She’s not going into labor,” the Miami Herald reported.

However, the hospital’s records were in fact inaccurate. The woman was actually 36 weeks pregnant and going into labor. After the mistake was eventually realized and the woman was taken to give birth, it was hours later and permanent damage had been caused to the newborn’s brain. The child is still hooked to a ventilator because of his birth injuries.

In addition to utilizing incorrect information, the report also found that attendants at the hospital failed to properly treat the woman’s pregnancy-induced hypertension, which can be life-threatening, despite numerous symptoms that it was present. She was also given psychiatric medication that was never approved to be given to her by her medical guardian.

The report ultimately concluded that “direct care and nursing staff expressed that they lacked knowledge and experience in working with pregnant residents.” The hospital was also found to be understaffed.

If your child suffered a birth injury that can be directly attributed to the negligence of doctors or caretakers, there may be legal options that you may wish to pursue. Call Sokolove Law today for a free legal consultation regarding a birth injury lawsuit. For legal help, call (800) 581-6358.

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