Doctor Negligence

Waynesboro, VA: (Apr-30-08) David Morris and his wife Elizabeth, from Waynesboro, brought a medical malpractice lawsuit against the University of Virginia Medical Center, alleging that the facility failed to respond to their son's deteriorating condition in the hours before his birth, causing him to be born with cerebral palsy and brain damage. The sit claimed that negligence on the part of hospital staff led to infant Hunter Morris's being born asphyxiated at birth. In its defense, the foundation employing the doctors stated that it and the doctors were immune from suit by any patients because of the charity care they provide to indigent patients. That claim was dismissed by the Supreme Court, as the Morrises were not indigent and paid part of their medical costs.

In a recent announcement in the case, sources stated that the two sides had reached a settlement in which the University of Virginia Medical Center will pay the Waynesboro couple $1.35 million to resolve the medical malpractice case. State officials said that at the time of Hunter's birth, the maximum award in a malpractice suit in VA for an injured person was $1.6 million. State laws limiting the amount that parties can derive from medical malpractice suits are raised this year at $2 million. Medical sources said that close to an estimated $9 million will be necessary to care for Hunter the rest of his life. [NEWS VIRGINIAN: U. VA., LOCAL FAMILY REACH $1.3M DEAL]

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Published on May-5-08