Richland County Jury Awards $1.4 Million in Medical Malpractice Case
In a significant ruling, a Richland County jury recently decided in favor of a family in a medical malpractice lawsuit, awarding them $1.4 million in actual damages. The case revolved around complications experienced by a baby girl following her premature birth at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands.
Quick Decision After a Long Week
The jury was out for only 35 minutes after a week-long trial, which has left many in the community talking about the issues that arose during this delicate case. The core question was whether the medical staff at Prisma Health failed to provide the necessary care when the baby was using a specialized facial covering designed to ensure a constant flow of oxygen to keep her airways open.
The Risks of Premature Birth
For those unfamiliar with the circumstances, premature babies are particularly vulnerable, and their care requires meticulous attention. The facial covering the infant was wearing is vital for helping her lungs, which hadn’t fully developed, yet it poses a risk to the sensitive skin of such young patients. If not monitored regularly, the pressure from the device can lead to significant and lasting damage to the baby’s nose and surrounding skin.
Brendan Green, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, explained, “The bottom line is this baby needed to be on a device to keep her lungs pressurized because her lungs weren’t developed enough. But you have to be careful when you do that because any contact with a baby’s skin can cause damage.”
The Journey of the Sales Family
The lawsuit was brought forth by the baby’s parents, Earl and Mary Sale, who both have respectable careers: Earl is an avionics engineer in the South Carolina National Guard, and Mary works as an electrical engineer with Dominion Energy. During the trial, both parents testified about their child’s condition and the impact of the injuries she sustained.
Adding weight to their case was an expert nurse-educator who trains hospital staff on monitoring oxygen devices for newborns, who also provided testimony on proper care standards. Before the case went to trial, Prisma Health had offered a mere $25,000 to settle, which the Sales declined, wanting to ensure accountability for the injuries suffered by their daughter.
Long-Term Consequences for the Baby
The outcome of this trial has significant implications for the infant, who has already undergone reconstruction surgery and may face additional procedures in the future, as noted by attorney Grace Babcock. “This was a permanent injury and she did need surgery,” she stated, emphasizing the severe impact of the hospital’s alleged negligence.
Prisma Health’s Response
Prisma Health contests the allegations, claiming that their treatment of the baby was proper and that they adhered to the standard of care expected in such situations, stating that they “breached no duty of care owed to the patient.” However, attempts to get further comments from Prisma’s legal team went unanswered.
A Lesson Learned
In the end, the Sales family hopes this case serves as a cautionary tale to ensure that such an incident doesn’t happen again to any other family. Green remarked, “We brought the lawsuit to help ensure this would not happen to the next person’s child,” emphasizing the importance of accountability in healthcare.
Jury deliberations have drawn attention not only to the challenges faced by families of premature infants but also to the responsibilities medical professionals hold in safeguarding the fragile health of their young patients.
