Judge Awards Family $951 Million in Landmark Birth Injury Case
We live in the United States, a developed country where we should have the best medical care possible. However, that is not always the case. Accidents happen. Doctors often engage in negligent or reckless behavior, causing injuries during childbirth, an event that happens every day.
Why is labor and delivery seemingly so difficult in the modern world? Why are babies dying or suffering from long-term injuries or even lifelong disabilities due to negligent care?
Birth injury cases often garner millions of dollars, but in a groundbreaking medical malpractice ruling, a judge has awarded $951 million, the largest such verdict in the Utah history, to the family of a young girl named Azaylee, who was severely brain-damaged following a botched delivery.
While the incident didn’t happen in Tennessee, it shows that negligent medical care can happen anywhere and expectant parents need to be aware. In this case, the court concluded that the hospital failed on multiple levels. Untrained nurses were left to manage patients without proper oversight, staff failed to interpret critical fetal monitoring data, and the labor and delivery unit was chronically understaffed.
In October 2019, during a trip away from home, mother Anyssa Zancanella went into labor and was taken to Jordan Valley Medical Center in West Valley City. The nurses responsible had only recently completed training. They administered excessive doses of Pitocin, even as warning signs such as rising fetal blood pressure and maternal fever surfaced, but no timely action was taken.
The on-call obstetrician, when eventually alerted, reportedly returned to sleep in a nearby room rather than intervening. Only after more than a day was a C-section finally performed, but by then, Azaylee had sustained severe oxygen-deprivation injuries.
Azaylee is almost 6 years old and suffers from profound cognitive impairments, frequent seizures, and non-verbal communication. She also needs 24/7 care and supervision.
Her family shares one bed to monitor her during sleep, carries portable oxygen, and is exploring aids like a service dog to assist with seizure detection. Despite ongoing physical and occupational therapy, the severity of her condition means she may never live independently
The award totals about $951,849,363.02 and includes:
- $200 million for the child’s noneconomic damages (pain and suffering).
- $110 million to the mother.
- $100 million to the father.
- More than $65 million in medical and economic costs.
- $475 million in punitive damages.
However, recovering the award remains uncertain. Steward Health Care, the hospital’s operator at the time, filed for bankruptcy in 2024, owes billions to creditors, and has since withdrawn from defending the case. As a result, the family’s attorneys estimate they may at best recover the punitive damages.
Contact Us Today
For the most part, birth injuries should never happen. The negligence and reckless behavior of medical staff should never play a role in causing injuries during childbirth.
Unfortunately, though, these issues happen quite a lot. If your family has been affected, get the legal help you need from a Mt. Juliet birth injury lawyer from The Law Offices of Christopher Eads, PLLC. You deserve answers and justice. We’ll help you fight for the compensation your family needs. Call (615) 622-6060 or fill out the online form to schedule a consultation.
Source:
nurse.org/news/utah-birth-injury-verdict-951m/
