Board Urges Settlement of Birth Injury Case
A 5-year-old girl who suffers from cerebral palsy and severe developmental problems as a result of mistakes made during her birth at a county hospital should be paid $770,000, a county board recommended Wednesday.
Jennifer A. Lazaro, who was born when county doctors were attempting to avoid costly caesarean section deliveries, was injured during her 1992 vaginal delivery at County-USC Medical Center, according to a report to the county Claims Board.
During the delivery, doctors failed to respond to a “suspicious” heartbeat and a subsequent lack of oxygen that rendered Jennifer’s blood extremely acidic, the report said.
Lazaro’s attorney, Peter J. McNulty, could not be reached.
County lawyers would not comment on whether the doctors involved in the case were disciplined, and would not release a health department report that details any corrective actions that may have been taken as a result of the case.
Under the terms of the proposed settlement, the county will pay $770,000 to Jennifer and her mother, Ruth Lazaro, with $221,000 of that going to cover legal fees.
The county would also cover all of Jennifer’s future medical needs by offering her lifetime care at its public hospitals.
The proposal must be approved by the Board of Supervisors, and will probably be heard in the next several weeks.
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