Early Induction of Labor Causes Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy of Newborn Baby – $2.5 Million Settlement

Elien Lorenzo received prenatal care from Dr. Nelson Alvarez-Reyes, M.D., an obstetrician employed by the federally funded clinic. During her prenatal care, she received several ultrasounds at this clinic. One of the ultrasound reports estimated a delivery date based on her last menstrual period. The calculation of the delivery date was more than three weeks earlier than the baby’s gestational age based on the measurements taken during the ultrasound test. Later test reports also showed the discrepancy of the projected delivery date.

Despite this information, Dr. Alvarez-Reyes induced labor more than four weeks before Lorenzo’s baby had reached full gestational age.

Before the delivery, the baby was shown to be under fetal distress. The baby was later diagnosed as having suffered hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The baby is now 4 years old and has developed mental delays, hearing loss and a seizure disorder.

Lorenzo and the baby’s father, individually and on behalf of the baby, their son, sued the United States alleging liability for Dr. Alvarez-Reyes’s negligent and premature induction without medical justification.

The lawsuit also named the hospital on the basis that its nurses chose not to timely summon the obstetrician quickly or go up the chain of command when problems occurred during labor.

The hospital settled confidentially at mediation. The Lorenzo family later reached a settlement with the U.S. government as well for $2.5 million.

The attorney successfully handling this lawsuit for the Lorenzo family was Tomas F. Gamba.

Lorenzo v. United States, No. 15-22904-Civ-Moreno (S.D. Fla.)

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling traumatic brain injury lawsuits, labor and delivery negligence cases, brain damage labor and delivery cases, birth injury lawsuits and medical negligence cases for individuals, families and the loved ones who have been injured, harmed or killed by the negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years, in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Winfield, Winthrop Harbor, Zion, St. Charles, Aurora, Antioch, Lake Zurich, Elk Grove Village, Countryside, Clarendon Hills, Oak Forest, Chicago (Chinatown, Little Italy, West Loop, South Loop, Hyde Park, Wrigleyville, Bridgeport, Canaryville, Rogers Park, Wicker Park), Tinley Park, Wilmette and Niles, Ill.