Iowa Woman Awarded $13.5 Million in Cerebral Palsy Case

Shannon Weidemann

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A woman that gave birth in 2003 has sued the hospital where she gave birth for medical malpractice because she believes they did not properly monitor her son during labor. The boy ended up having cerebral palsy. The jury in the case agreed and awarded the woman $13.5 Million. The boy was born at Broadlawns Medical Center.

As doctors prepared to perform a c-section on Deb Gardner, she says they stopped monitoring her baby's heartbeat. She says a spinal anesthetic caused her blood pressure to drop, which cut off oxygen to the baby. Finally, she says doctors did not realize there was a problem and took their time performing the c-section.

Cerebral palsy is a condition with no cure. It is usually caused due to lack of oxygen to the brain during labor and childbirth. The hospital has decided it will appeal the decision.