Mom Blames Kaiser for Baby’s Birth Injury

4-17-2014 23:58:00

     MARTINEZ, Calif. (CN) - Kaiser’s medical negligence gave a baby boy Erb’s palsy, his mother claims in a lawsuit filed in Contra Costa County Superior Court.
     Heather Parsons sued Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and the Permanente Medical Group as guardian ad litem for her son, John Parsons.
     An American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) website describes Erb’s palsy as an injury to the brachial plexus, a network of nerves near the neck that lead to all the nerves of the arm, hand and fingers. AAOS says these injuries “usually occur during a difficult delivery, such as with a large baby, a breech presentation, or a prolonged labor. It may also happen when a birth becomes complicated and the person assisting the delivery must deliver the baby quickly and exert some force to pull the baby from the birth canal.”
     John Parsons, now almost two years old, has "severe Erb’s palsy and neurological damage, all of which said injuries have caused and continue to cause the minor plaintiff great physical, emotional and nervous pain and suffering,” the complaint states. John’s mother anticipates loss of earnings, permanent disability, loss of enjoyment of life and impairment of earning capacity, and ongoing medical expenses for him.
     Heather Parsons seeks economic and non-economic damages, past and future medical expenses for John, loss of his future earnings and earning capacity, prejudgment interest, costs of suit and a jury trial.
     The plaintiff is represented by Thomas E. Donahue and Nichole D. Podgurski of Donahue & Horrow in El Segundo.