more than $22 million for severe and permanent birth injuries sustained by her daughter in 1997.
After a five week trial, the Hamilton County jury ruled that Dr. Lisa Yang and Group Health Associates were negligent in the delivery of Cassie Grow. The money from the verdict will go toward compensating Cassie for her medical costs and pain and suffering, among other things.
Brain Damage
Now 11-years-old, Cassie suffers from spastic quadriplegia and mild retardation as a result of the brain damage she endured during her birth. Heather Grow, Cassie’s mother, was told that she had a narrow pelvic arch, a serious medical issue for delivering a baby expected to be about nine pounds.
“The evidence was pretty compelling that this baby was not going to fit” through the birth canal, attorney Patrick P.J. Beirne said. “The child got stuck….It was like trying to fit a watermelon through (an opening) the size of an apple.”
To compound the problem, medical workers under Yang’s supervision continued giving Grow drugs to contract her uterus in hopes of pushing the baby through the canal. However, the contractions were causing damage to the baby’s brain.
“She was having contractions every one to two minutes for hours. It violates every medical textbook. It puts the baby and mom (in) danger,” said attorney Mark Mueller.
Permanent Injuries
Cassie now has problems using her hands, requires the use of a walker, and cannot properly interpret visual images.
“These are permanent injuries,” Mueller said. “The doctor had a responsibility to ensure she had a safe delivery.”