Generally, expectant mothers in Houston, Texas, probably expect the birth of their child to occur without any major medical issues. Unfortunately for one Texas teen, this was not the case. After it was decided that she should undergo a C-section, the young mother was given spinal anesthesia which then led to severe complications. The girl’s family is now suing the hospital and medical professionals for negligent medical care that resulted in permanent brain damage.
The 16-year-old girl was admitted to Christus St. Michael Hospital in Texas in December 2010 after going into labor. She was 41 weeks pregnant and experiencing contractions. After two hours, her doctors decided to perform a Caesarian section, since the labor was not progressing.
The girl received local anesthesia through an epidural, but the catheter dislodged. Doctors then gave her a spinal anesthesia. She then suffered from complications including slow heartbeat, blue skin, respiratory problems and decreased mental capacity. In the end, she also suffered from cardiac arrest and severe and permanent brain damage. Among the damages sought in the lawsuit, her family is requesting compensation for her pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, disability, physical impairment and loss of income.
Generally, a patient has a legal right to file a medical malpractice suit when a doctor deviates from an accepted standard of care and causes harm to the patient. The case above illustrates how even a common medical procedure such as a C-section can result in complications due the errors and mistakes of hospitals and doctors. While doctors may not be perfect, their mistakes can cause serious injuries to patients. It is therefore necessary for patients to obtain compensation for their injuries caused by negligent doctors. Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit can help accomplish this.
Source: Setexasrecord.com, “Malpractice suit claims teen suffered brain damage from too much anesthesia,” Michelle Keahey, Dec. 30, 2012
EXPERTLY REVIEWED BY
John A. Davis, Jr. and Steven R. Davis
January 10 2013
Steven R. Davis and John A. Davis, Jr. are experienced attorneys at Davis & Davis, a law firm that specializes in medical malpractice cases in Texas. With a deep commitment to justice that guides their ethical approach, Davis and Davis have dedicated their careers to helping victims of medical negligence. They and their team continue to advocate for clients, despite the challenges posed by Texas's cap on recoverable damages in malpractice lawsuits. Davis & Davis pride themselves on their extensive experience in the field and their readiness to meet clients across the United States.
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