ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A local jury awarded nearly $50 million in damages to the Anyan family of St. Louis County on Tuesday, following a traumatic birth event at Mercy Hospital that resulted in severe and permanent brain damage to their newborn son. The decision, which marked the culmination of a contentious trial, reflected both compensatory and punitive damages, totaling $48.1 million, due to the hospital’s alleged malpractice during labor and delivery.
During the trial, evidence presented indicated that Sarah Anyan was permitted to continue in prolonged labor for over 12 hours despite signs of distress and abnormalities in the baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels. Legal representatives for the family argued that an earlier decision to perform a cesarean section could have averted the injury. Instead, the decision to proceed with a vaginal delivery led to critical delays.
After an intense four hours of deliberation, the jury found in favor of the plaintiffs, assigning $28.1 million in compensatory damages and $20 million in punitive damages against the care providers, which included Mercy Hospital, Mercy Clinic, and Dr. Daniel McNeive. This verdict serves not only as compensation for the Anyan family but also as a pointed critique of the practices at Mercy Hospital.
The child, now diagnosed with cerebral palsy, experienced seizures less than a day after being born and subsequently spent 46 days in the NICU. His condition will require lifelong care and medical attention, impacting the family’s day-to-day life profoundly. Prior to the incident, Sarah Anyan, a cardiac nurse, and her husband Blake, a former respiratory therapist at Mercy, were both employed in the medical field. Sarah has since ceased working to provide full-time care for their son.
Legal counsel for the Anyans, Liz Lenivy from Simon Law, expressed satisfaction with the jury’s decision, noting that the substantial award was the result of diligent consideration of extensive evidence. The judgment, according to the family’s attorneys, will ease the substantial financial strain of ongoing medical expenses for their son.
In response to the verdict, Mercy Hospital issued a statement expressing their sympathy for the family but disagreed with the jury’s findings. The hospital highlighted their intention to explore all available options, including potentially appealing the verdict.
The legal team representing the Anyans hopes that the size of the punitive award will serve as a stark warning to the hospital and healthcare professionals about the critical importance of adhering to safe delivery practices. Attorney Amy Gunn emphasized that it should prompt a reevaluation of labor and delivery protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This case has been noted by the firms representing the family, Gunn | Slater, as the largest medical malpractice verdict ever awarded in Missouri, emphasizing its significance not only in terms of compensation but also in its potential influence on medical practices in the region.
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