RACINE, Wis. — A Wisconsin family was awarded $10 million after a jury found a hospital and its staff responsible for medical negligence that resulted in severe brain damage to their daughter during childbirth. The verdict, finalized nearly six years after the incident, marks a rare judicial outcome favoring the plaintiff in a state where hospitals typically prevail in medical malpractice lawsuits.
Ka’Mya Minor, who suffered brain damage at birth, was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy before her second birthday. Now at age 6, she is mostly nonverbal, yet has learned to communicate through signing and can even exchange high fives, her family said.
Monica Cerna, Ka’Mya’s mother, recounted a seemingly normal pregnancy interrupted by labor complications at Ascension All Saints Hospital. To expedite labor, doctors administered Pitocin, a synthetic hormone used to induce labor. However, Cerna was not informed about the use of the drug, which she believes contributed to her daughter’s health complications.
During delivery, Ka’Mya was born via cesarean section showing no signs of breath and a weak pulse, requiring immediate transfer to the neonatal intensive care unit and subsequently to Children’s Hospital. Medical evaluations later confirmed that Ka’Mya had sustained significant brain damage linked to the administration of Pitocin.
The family’s attorney, Matthew Patterson, emphasized that the tragic outcome was entirely preventable and stemmed from medical negligence. “It’s truly carelessness, not a case of professionals attempting to harm. It was just negligence,” Patterson remarked.
During the trial, evidence was presented that improper monitoring and excessive dosage of Pitocin led to prolonged and intense contractions that were harmful to Ka’Mya during labor. Patterson noted that different patients react differently to the drug, stressing the importance of careful management and observation.
The jury’s decision to side with the family in this case is significant given that more than 90% of similar lawsuits in Wisconsin end in favor of healthcare providers. Patterson and the Minor family hope this verdict will prompt better medical practices and awareness around the use of labor-inducing drugs.
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