When Cody White was born in June 2001 at the
Community Medical Center (CMC) in Scranton in northeast Pennsylvania, the four-hour delay before his labor induction and cesarean section resulted in severe oxygen deprivation, causing
cerebral palsy, blindness and mental retardation. Now seven years old, Cody has no use of his hands, cannot walk or talk, and functions at the level of a six to nine-month-old baby.
Past and Future Medical Expenses, Lost Earnings, Suffering
A Lackawanna County jury awarded Cody's parents $20.5 million Nov. 24 for his care, in the largest medical malpractice verdict seen in the region in recent history. The jury assigned 40 percent of the liability to the CMC and 60 percent to Richard Behlke, M.D. The award includes:
- $2 million for the family's past medical expenses
- $18.5 million for Cody's future medical expenses, lost earning capacity, and the family's emotional suffering
Substandard Medical Care
On June 30, 2001, Laura White called the office of her primary obstetrician because she felt that something was going wrong with her pregnancy. Dr. Behlke, another obstetrician, directed her to go to the CMC.
When she arrived at the CMC, fetal monitoring showed that the baby was in distress, and staff called Dr. Behlke, who did not arrive until two hours later, according to the Whites' attorneys. The decision to induce labor made the delivery more difficult, and by the time Cody was delivered two hours later, he had suffered severe
oxygen deprivation.
"He's a great little boy…he has a lot of difficulties, though," said Cody’s father. The Whites filed the medical malpractice lawsuit in 2003.
(Source: Scranton Times)
If your child suffered injuries at birth, contact us to speak with a qualified
birth injury lawyer in your area to discuss your concerns.
