Doctor Negligence during Child Birth

Our Case *

This medical malpractice, wrongful death, and survival action alleged that the care and treatment provided to Mrs. Jacobs and her son, Daniel Jacobs, who died subsequent to birth.

Although employed full-time, Mrs. Jacobs like many Americans lacked private health insurance. Her reliance on Medicaid, State Assistance and her status as a " clinic patient" at the Hospital all played a part in the negligent, substandard, and reckless health care provided to her and her premature son Daniel Jacobs prior to his birth.

While visiting friends in the Lancaster County area during Easter of 1996, Mrs. Jacobs was faced with a medical emergency. On April 7, 1996 at approximately 25 weeks of a healthy and normal pregnancy, Mrs.'s membranes ruptured at 10:00 in the morning. She was transported via ambulance to the closest hospital seeking emergency medical care.

Upon her arrival to the Hospital, Dr. Webster told Mrs. Jacobs that she needed to be admitted to a larger urban hospital. Mrs. Jacobs followed the medical advice of Dr. Webster and was transported via ambulance to another Hospital.

Upon admission, Mrs. Jacobs was denied basic medical care with the necessary antibiotics that would have prolonged her pregnancy one more week that would have given to her son Daniel the sustained survival he needed. Instead, Mrs. Jacobs was encouraged and lead to believe that transporting herself, by either car or ambulance (which she insisted upon), was the safe and desirable way to proceed. Mrs. Jacobs arrived at her "home hospital" with a viable premature child with a birth weight of 1 lb., 8 oz. and 14 inches in length. The infection developing over the last 30 hours without the necessary antibiotics would prove fatal to Daniel.

The Verdict

The Lewis Law Firm were able to recover a large monetary award as a result of trial. The battle was far from easy but the reward Mrs. Jacobs received was well worth the effort. At the Lewis Law Firm, we go to battle for you.

* Names have been changed where appropriate