New parents in New York spend a great deal of time worrying about their babies. While some of this concern is simply the anxiety of parents, some ultimately face their worst nightmare — the hospitalization of their child. While they expect medical professionals to have the best interests of their child at heart, some patients ultimately experience a child injury as a result of negligence on the part of care providers.
Unfortunately, a woman in another state claims that her son was the victim of such treatment. He was admitted to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital at 4 months old because he had the flu. Because of a genetic condition related to his lungs, a breathing tube was utilized. The child’s mother claims that one day when a nurse was giving her son a bath, the nurse pulled out his breathing tube, ultimately resulting in a loss of oxygen that caused brain damage.
The woman claims that the man showed signs of being under the influence of methamphetamine. She states that his eyes were bloodshot, he was shaking and sweating and he was hyper and anxious. Despite the signs that something was awry, the woman claims she placed her faith in other staff members to take action if something was not right.
Unfortunately, reports indicate that the young boy was deprived of oxygen for seven to 13 minutes. His parents claim that he experienced brain damage as result. At two, he can not speak or walk more than a few steps, and he requires around the clock nursing care. Although the nurse reportedly involved in the case previously admitted to having a drug addiction and was part of a program that required a drug test if he was involved in a major incident involving a patient, it does not appear that a test was administered following the incident with the infant. He denies that allegations against him.
Parents in New York who are dealing with the consequences of a child injury as a result of medical malpractice are often unsure where to turn for help. In some cases, their children will face a lifetime of medical interventions that can quickly become a financial burden. To ensure that their children receive the care that they need and that the parties deemed responsible are held accountable for their actions, many victims and their families turn to an experienced personal injury attorney for help.
Source: Miami Herald, “Baby suffered brain damage under care of Florida nurse on drugs, suit claims“, Daniel Chang, March 2, 2018