Harris County (Tex) District Court
A woman who had undergone a previous cesarean section presented to a hospital for labor and delivery. Following her admission, oxytocin was given.
During labor, the woman’s uterus ruptured, causing the infant to detach from both the uterus and the placenta. Following an emergency cesarean, the child was born with cerebral palsy.
In suing, the mother argued that the doctors and nurses were negligent in administering oxytocin. Further, she claimed that the doctor was not properly informed of changes in the fetal monitoring strip.
The doctor claimed that he had no recollection of ordering the oxytocin.
- The jury awarded the plaintiff $1,587,000.