Sunday, December 03, 2006

Multimillion dollar verdict for homebirth mistake

From an article in the Worcester (UK) News:
A severely disabled 12-year-old boy who needs round-the-clock care following complications with his birth has been awarded almost £5m in compensation.

Earlier today (Friday) a High Court agreed that Daniel Groves - who suffers from cerebral palsy, is totally dependent upon a wheelchair and unable to speak - had been let down by medical professionals in Worcestershire.

Birmingham's High Court heard Daniel's family GP and community midwives had failed to spot his mother, Ingrid, had developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

She was encouraged to have a home birth, but because of her condition, Daniel was born weighing 11lb 8oz and his shoulders became stuck during labour.

His mother's condition should have meant his birth was classed as a high-risk hospital delivery, but specialist medical teams and equipment was not available to resuscitate him and Daniel was deprived of oxygen leaving him with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and Erb's palsy.

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