A Utah family has been awarded nearly $1 billion after a court ruled that Steward Health Care was guilty of malpractice in the botched delivery of their daughter, Azaili, who is now five years old and disabled. The judgment, totaling $951 million, was handed down by Judge Patry Corum.
The case centered around the administration of a labor-inducing drug by recently graduated nurses who failed to properly monitor the mother, Anisse Zankanella, during childbirth. Reports indicate that the on-call doctor was asleep in a nearby room when the nurses alerted him that the mother had developed a fever and the child's blood pressure had risen significantly. Despite being informed, the doctor did not take action and returned to sleep.
Azaili was born via cesarean section with significant physical deformities, including a misshapen head and facial swelling. Currently, she has limited speech and impaired cognitive functions, with medical professionals indicating that she will likely be disabled for life, unable to learn, drive, or work.
The family now faces a challenging road ahead to secure the awarded funds, as Steward Health Care is reportedly on the verge of bankruptcy, owing creditors billions of dollars. This situation highlights the ongoing issues within the healthcare system regarding patient safety and accountability, a topic that has garnered increasing attention in recent months amidst related coverage of medical malpractice cases.
