Lehigh County hospital loses $55 million suit

Lehigh County recently saw one of the largest medical malpractice payouts for a single person in the history of Pennsylvania. A jury found that the negligence of both St. Luke’s University Hospital and Dr. Ronald Kirner caused serious injury to Matthew Crowell during his birth.

In November of 2009, Sharon Petrosky Crowell went to St. Luke’s to deliver her child. As she went into labor, attorneys for the Crowells claim that doctors did not notice that the baby was not getting enough oxygen and that they should perform an emergency caesarian section. After doctors decided to continue on with a vaginal delivery, Matthew became stuck in the birth canal, which caused him to be further deprived of oxygen. His mother, too, began to hemorrhage and required emergency surgical intervention.

Sadly, in the course of his birth, Matthew suffered significant, life changing injuries. The boy, who is now four years old, is severely developmentally disabled and suffers from cerebral palsy.

The Crowells’ purpose in filing their suit against the hospital and their doctor was to be able to pay for Matthew’s care. His health is such that he requires significant medical care and will likely require it for the rest of his life.

The exact amount the Crowells are likely to receive as a result of the suit is still unclear. Before the jury returned its verdict, the family signed an agreement with the defendants setting a cap on how much they would pay if the plaintiffs were successful. The exact terms of the agreement signed by the family are confidential.

For its part, St. Luke’s University Hospital released a statement expressing best wishes for Matthew and sympathy for his family, but the facility continued to deny responsibility for his injuries. The hospital insists that its staff provided the right care to Matthew and his mother.

While this case is noteworthy for the large amount of money awarded by the jury, the sad reality is that birth injuries are more common than many people think. In many cases, these sorts of injuries, including cerebral palsy and shoulder dystocia, can have devastating life-long consequences.

If your child suffered an injury at birth due to a mistake by a doctor or hospital, speak to a birth injury attorney. An attorney can talk to you about your legal rights and help you determine what to do next. For more information, schedule a consultation with an attorney today.