Pregnant Woman Sustains Permanent Brain Damage Resulting from Improperly Managed Respiratory Issues; Settled for $5,700,000

A 17-year-old pregnant woman suffered profound and permanent brain damage resulting from the hospital staff's alleged failure to properly manage her respiratory issues. The woman, who was 34 weeks pregnant at the time, was admitted to the hospital with back and abdominal pain. Over the next few days, her condition deterioriated and she was septic in addition to developing respiratory problems. To manage these conditions, the patient was intubated and put on a ventilator. After giving birth to her daughter, her condition further worsened and she ultimately lost consciousness. Upon resuscitation, she was found to have suffered a severe global hypoxic brain injury resulting in significant diffuse cognitive impairment. Due to alleged improper monitoring of her respiratory status and the resultant lack of oxygen to her brain, the patient was severely impaired both cognitively and physically and will require constant medical care for the remainder of her life. Daniel M. Hodes and Geoffrey Gray of Hodes Milman represented the plaintiff through her conservator. After two years of litigation and two sessions of mediation, the case resolved for $ 5,700,000.