South Carolina Lawyer Blog
The Frederick News Post reports a Montgomery County Circuit jury has given a couple a $1.8 million award in the death of their newborn son.
When the baby was born on July 5, 2005, the doctor chose to use vacuum extraction for the delivery because the baby’s head was wedged in the birth canal. He died two days later of complications arising from bleeding between the skull and the scalp.
The lawsuit claimed that not only did the doctor violate the standards of care; he performed the procedure without advising the parents of the risks involved. Had the parents been told of the complications, they would have waited for a cesarean section.
The jury found the doctor negligent and ordered $752,000 for medical bills, funeral expenses and loss of services; $100,000 for the baby’s pain and suffering, and $500,000 for each parent for their mental anguish.