Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyers

Medical malpractice cases can be particularly charged in an emotional sense, especially when the person who has suffered as a result of an alleged mistake is a newborn. Tragically, that’s what seems to have occurred to a Fort Lauderdale resident, now 15, as a result of the medical care she was provided immediately after being born. A lawsuit was filed, and a jury recently found the defendants to be liable, awarding $4.3 million in damages.

According to the Sun-Sentinel:

“Doctors told the parents of newborn Haylee Kroll not to worry when large bruises appeared on her tiny body. Then the baby’s skin turned yellow, her liver showed signs of scarring and a blood clot formed in her brain. A few days later, her parents were advised to make funeral arrangements.

“They’d tell us different things every day,” said Cynthia Kroll, 35, Haylee’s mother. “It was a roller-coaster ride.”

Haylee survived, but her parents say doctors at Coral Springs Medical Center misdiagnosed the virus that struck their baby soon after her April 21, 1994, birth, leaving her with lifelong disabilities. Now 15, Haylee has severe vision problems and permanent cirrhosis of the liver.

Because of scheduling issues, the lawsuit had been often delayed since it was filed in 1996. The case ended in a mistrial in 2007, before going to court again in August.

Once Haylee got sick, the doctors ignored symptoms that pointed to an enterovirus, a usually mild illness that can become deadly in infants without a developed immune system. The doctors also failed to take blood and liver tests that would have quickly identified the virus, said Linda Alley, one of the attorneys who represented the Krolls.

The blood clot damaged parts of Haylee’s brain, leaving her with a learning disability that affects her school work.”

As you see, a medical mistake can lead to a lifetime of consequences. If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of negligent medical care, you need the help of Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice lawyers who understand how to hold those responsible for these mistakes accountable. Contact Bernstein & Maryanoff today to schedule a free initial consultation.