Brain injury news
06/02/2008

Hospital admits responsibility in letter to family

The parents of an Essex boy who suffered a brain injury during his protracted birth at an Ipswich hospital have been given the go ahead to make a birth injury claim after the hospital admitted liability for his injury.

Experts predict that the boy, now three years old, will never make a full recovery from his traumatic birth. In a letter from the hospital to they boy's parents, the hospital explained, "We… confirm that it is accepted that, but for the admitted breach of duty, the claimant would have been born earlier and would have avoided the hypoxic injury from which he suffered."

It is understood that the boy most likely developed his brain injury as a result of an avoidable delay during his birth. As the mother was having difficulties with her labour a doctor decided to induce her. However, when he was unsuccessful in his attempt, he called for another doctor who, rather than following the correct procedure of carrying out an immediate caesarean, attempted another suction cap induction. Around half-an-hour later the boy was born by emergency caesarean, during which time he had been deprived of vital oxygen to his brain.

The case is now expected to go to court although there are expected to be some difficulties in determining just how debilitating the boy's injuries will prove to be in the long term.

The medical negligence lawyer representing the boy and his family has commented that "as a result of the trust's negligence" his client has "sustained profound brain injury, which means he will require lifelong care, specialist therapy and equipment."

He added that investigations into the extent of the boy's injuries would continue and that he hoped the issue of compensation would be settled soon.