Settlement reached in Chicago Family's Cerebral Palsy Case

This past Tuesday, a Chicago family was awarded $14 million in their settlement involving their son who was the victim of severe brain injuries when he was born in 2002.

The hospital staff members allegedly confused his heart rate with his mother’s during his birth and as a result, the boy now has cerebral palsy and his arms and legs are paralyzed.

Parents Take Action

Georgiann Vlachos, delivered her first child at noon May 24, 2002, at the Prentice Women's Hospital, a part of the Northwestern system.

The nurse and obstetrician allegedly did not realize that the baby was in fetal distress.

Therefore, they misinterpreted his heart rate.

The neonatal resuscitation team did not get to the baby until it was too late and he was already delivered, appearing blue and limp, explains the family’s attorney, Kurt Lloyd.

The seven minutes he had gone without oxygen had already caused him harm and he suffered from spastic quadriplegia.

The lawsuit was made against the Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the plaintiff claimed that when the baby was born the child was not breathing, but the hospital’s health care professionals weren’t prepared to resuscitate him due to their monitoring error.

Reports state that since the boy was not breathing for seven minutes, it caused him to develop cerebral palsy.

Justice is Served

Lloyd reports that, although the family is pleased with the settlement, no amount of money can replace their son’s health.

However, they feel justice has been served and as Lloyd states, they can, "Now provide for the child for the rest of his life."

(Source: Chicago Tribune)

Does your child have cerebral palsy due to a hospital error? Contact us today to speak with an experienced attorney who can help you receive the compensation you deserve for your losses while informing you of your legal options.