Cerebral Palsy Lawsuit Leads to $3.75M Award

Iowa agreed to pay $3.75 million to settle a cerebral palsy lawsuit filed by a couple who claims malpractice by the medical staff at a University of Iowa hospital caused their child’s brain injuries.

Jonathon and Martha Fountain claim that their son has cerebral palsy and other serious health issues due to the negligence of hospital staff relating to the use of the synthetic hormone Pitocin during his birth, according to the Associated Press.

The drug is meant to speed up the birthing process but the lawsuit claims doctors gave it to Martha Fountain before they could determine the strength and frequency of her contractions.

The cerebral palsy lawsuit said that hospital employees continued to give her the drug, despite later recordings that showed excessive contractions and “significant trauma” to the child’s head, which had difficulty descending through the birth canal, according to the AP. The baby was finally delivered through a cesarean section after 28 hours of labor.

Under the settlement, the state will pay about $2 million upfront and use the rest to support the child over the next 55 years, states the AP.

If your child was born with cerebral palsy due to the error of medical professionals, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to find out if a cerebral palsy lawyer may be able to help you. For legal help, call (800) 581-6358.

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