Improper Drug Use During Birth Resulted In Brain Damage To Baby Indicated Attorney Christopher Mellino of Mellino Robenalt

Cleveland, OH (Law Firm Newswire) September 16, 2013 – This $5.25 million settlement was paid by Wexner Medical Center in Ohio for a medical malpractice claim filed after the birth of a brain-damaged baby.

“This reported case was a troubling one for what it said about the medical care a mother did not get while in hospital; care she should have had every reason to expect from medical staff,” indicated Christopher Mellino, a Cleveland medical negligence lawyer with Mellino Robenalt.

The mother was admitted to the facility in 2006, just as she was going into labor. It was April 28th, 2006. Her son was eventually delivered by C-section, the next morning, at about 5 a.m. The baby was born with a profound brain injury and he requires 24-hour care. “The family filed a medical negligence lawsuit against the 69-year-old obstetrician, who allegedly failed to manage the woman’s labor properly and who took far too long to make the decision as to whether a C-section was required. The delay in performing the surgery resulted in the baby being born with brain damage,” Mellino outlined.

At trial, two medical experts provided testimony that a drug, Pitocin, was not administered properly during the birth. It is used to increase contractions during labor and in this instance, decreased the blood supply and oxygen to the baby.

This claim is the second largest paid out by Ohio State’s medical center. It appears their track record for medical negligence claims is disturbing and includes at least 11 malpractice cases, since 1996, for a total payout of $25.66 million. They also had to pay out $7.3 million to a plaintiff as a result of not responding properly to her respiratory distress, an error that cut off oxygen to her brain. She has no awareness of her surroundings and cannot talk or walk.

Mellino Robenalt LLC has Cleveland Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Attorneys

“If you suspect you have been a victim of a hospital error, or medical negligence, you need to discuss your case with an experienced Cleveland medical malpractice lawyer. You have rights, and you need to know what those are and how to proceed with a medical negligence suit and what to expect. It is best to also keep in mind that not all bad outcomes with a physician are considered to be malpractice,” Mellino added.