Cook County (Ill) Circuit Court
Following a 6-hour trial of labor, a woman who had presented to a hospital for delivery underwent an emergency cesarean. The baby was delivered with severely depressed Apgar scores. Within 2 hours, he developed seizures and meconium aspiration syndrome. He died 26 hours later.
The parents sued, claiming that the physician and nursing staff should have performed the cesarean at least 30 minutes sooner. They added that the brain damage occurred during the last 10 minutes before delivery.
The physician and nursing staff contended that the cesarean was conducted in a timely and appropriate manner. Further, they maintained that the fetus suffered brain damage in utero, as a result of a triple nuchal cord and true knot in the umbilical cord.
- The jury returned a verdict for the defense.