On May 8, 2017, a judge in the Cook County Circuit Court awarded over $23.1 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit brought by the family of a 5-year-old girl suffering ongoing health problems because of birth injuries.
Judge Kay Hanlon found that Dr. Thomas Myers, a neonatologist, was negligent when he assisted in the birth of Drew Kerrins, of Tinley Park, at Palos Community Hospital on June 21, 2011. Judge Hanlon also found the hospital not negligent but still liable for about $21 million of the awarded damages.
The medical malpractice lawsuit alleged that Drew had suffered massive blood loss during birth and was not fully transfused until approximately three hours later. As a result, Drew developed multiple ongoing health problems, such as cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
During Drew’s delivery, medical personnel noted that Drew’s heart rate was no longer readable and that that a large pool of blood had collected on the bed as a result of what was later identified as a fetal vessel rupture.
The medical malpractice lawsuit also alleged that Dr. Myers was unreachable via pager or cellphone, which he claimed to have left at the hospital after changing clothes at the end of day. He was later reached at home and returned to the hospital some twenty minutes afterwards. In the interim, Dr. Myers’s associate had ordered a blood transfusion for the baby, but it was insufficient, and there was a delay in the arrival of additional blood.
According to the family’s attorney, Drew requires physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and she is dependent upon others for all of her bodily functions. Drew’s mother quit her job to serve as her fulltime caregiver.
Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Medical malpractice is one of the most challenging forms of litigation. With the complex medical details, the legal challenges, and the aggressive defense approach taken by medical professionals and their insurance agencies, it is essential to work with a team of medical malpractice lawyers that has the experience, the reputation, and the resources needed to handle this type of litigation, such as the medical malpractice attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers.
GWC prosecutes a wide variety of injury cases throughout Illinois, including those involving medical malpractice, auto collisions, workers’ compensation, construction injuries, and product liability. If you or your loved one has been injured, because of medical malpractice or by some other means, please contact our office for a free legal consultation to see if you may be eligible for financial compensation for your injuries.
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