Go to navigation Go to content

Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton

All We Do is Injury Law

Toll-Free: 1-800-752-0042
Phone: 1-757-460-7776

PHONE: 757-460-7776
TOLL FREE: 800-752-0042

Get help Now!

Interested in working with us? Call us on 1-757-460-7776 or fill out this quick form and we will contact you within 24 hours!

 

Practice Areas

Emily Mapp Brannon
by Emily Mapp Brannon
Connect with Emily
Emily is a Virginia injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, FELA, wrongful death, etc.

Blog Category:
10/5/2010
Emily Mapp Brannon
Comments (0)

'Locked-in' Woman's Family Receives $12M Settlement From Hospital, Doctor Who Mistreated Birth Injury

Family members who have cared for an Illinois (IL) woman suffering from locked-in syndrome since 2002 have received a $12 million settlement from the hospital, clinic and anesthesiologist whose apparently inadequate response to a severe adverse reaction to a medication led to the brain injury.

According to a legal summary of facts reported in the October 2, 2010 News-Gazette, the woman suffered cardiopulmonary arrest after receiving an epidural to relieve labor pains while in the birth unit of Provena Covenant Medical Center to deliver her second child. The woman remained in a near-death state for 20 minutes before being revived because the equipment and drugs needed to provide life-saving treatments were not located in the same room where she was.

As a locked-in patient, the woman retains most of her mental function but is unable to move any of her muscles. Since she is paralyzed, she requires round-the-clock personal care. Her family has said through their lawyers that they will use the money from the settlement to take care of the woman and her two children.

When people hear the terms "brain injury" and "birth injury," they most likely to picture a scenario far different from the one this woman and her family lived through and will have to deal with for the rest of their lives. But anesthetics used for any purpose can cause heart and lung failure, and lack of oxygen and impeded blood flow can cause irreversible brain damage. When such tragedies occur -- and even this woman's family and lawyers acknowledge that the side effects and slow response resulted from systemic problems rather than personal negligence or mistakes -- the people injured and the survivors of those killed need to have recourse to the courts to receive adequate compensation. I'm glad to see that the legal system worked as designed in this instance.

EJL

Category: Brain Damage/Head Injuries

Labels: anesthesia baby birth injury brain injury clinic doctor Emily Mapp Brannon epidural family hospital Illinois injection lawyer locked-in syndrome medical mistake medicine paralyzed pregnancy settlement


About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a VA injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling cases brought by victims of traumatic brain injury and closed head injuries. In fact, in 2000, our firm helped a plaintiff receive what was then the largest verdict ever in a Virginia brain injury case. Then in the year 2012 we won a $21 million brain injury verdict.  We also have a blog in which we discuss only topics related to brain injuries and head wounds. 

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008.Shapiro and Lewis have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2008. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers receive this professional honor. In addition, our firm was the first in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA injury law firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.
We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Suffolk and Newport News if you or a family member has been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness. While not every case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential consultations. Call us toll-free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can get back to you.

Virginia Injury LawyerBest Virginia Injury LawyersVirginia Super Lawyers



There are no comments.

Post a comment

Post a Comment to "'Locked-in' Woman's Family Receives $12M Settlement From Hospital, Doctor Who Mistreated Birth Injury"

To reply to this message, enter your reply in the box labeled "Message", hit "Post Message."

Name:*

Email:* (will not be published)

Website:

Message:

Notify me of follow-up comments via email.

For security purposes, please enter the graphic text in the box below: [hit F5 if you can not read the text]