Family Awarded $20.5 Million in Cerebral Palsy Case

A jury in Pennsylvania has awarded $20.5 million in damages to a child who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as the result of a birth injury.

The medical malpractice case, which was filed by the child's mother, Laura White, claimed that her son, Cody White, suffered brain damage as the result of doctor and hospital negligence. According the lawsuit, White was hooked up to a fetal monitoring system that indicated the baby was in distress. White said the doctor took two hours to arrive, and even after his arrival, attempted to try and induce labor instead of doing an emergency Caesarean section.

Cerebral palsy is form of brain damage that affects motor skills. The family claimed that the doctor and hospital staff failed to perform an immediate Caesarean section which caused a lack of oxygen to Cody's brain, directly resulting in permanent brain damage.

The lawsuit alleges that as the result of the doctor's four-hour delay, Cody White, who is now 7, requires 24-hour care, is unable to use his hands, is mentally retarded, suffers from blindness, and functions at the mental capacity of a 9 month old.

According the Scranton Times, the family was awarded $2 million for past expenses and $18.5 million for Cody's pain and suffering, lost earning capacity, and future medical expenses.

For more information regarding cerebral palsy, brain injuries, or birth injuries, click here to find a medical malpractice attorney in your state.