Palm Beach (Fla) County Circuit Court
Suspecting macrosomia severe enough to impede normal vaginal delivery, an obstetrician induced early labor, using forceps to deliver the infant.
At birth, however, the child weighed just 6 lbs and suffered severe brain damage. He spent the following 3 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit, and subsequently underwent 14 surgeries to his brain and spine. He requires constant care due to severe physical and neurologic impairment.
The plaintiff claimed the physician was negligent in inducing early labor and used an improper forceps technique known to be associated with a higher risk of brain damage.
The defense maintained the child’s injuries were congenital.
- A jury awarded the plaintiff $63 million.