$3,500,000
Brain Damage due to Birth Injury and Asphyxia
A mother was pregnant with twins when she went to a local medical center for delivery. Towards the end of labor, one of the twins (Twin B) developed fetal distress. The obstetrician and nursing staff misidentified the twins, believing it was the other twin (Twin A) that was in distress. They expedited the delivery of the healthy twin, and delayed the delivery of the distressed twin. During the delay, they also continued to infuse Pitocin, a drug which strengthened uterine contractions and further compromised Twin B. The baby was born severely depressed and suffered hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, leading to cerebral palsy and developmental delay.