The Virginian-Pilot
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NORFOLK
A jury on Friday awarded $2.3 million in damages to a 4 -year-old boy who suffered arm injuries at birth.
James C. Lewis, a Virginia Beach attorney, said the Circuit Court jury also awarded $60,000 to the child's mother, Cory Spollen of Virginia Beach, for reimbursement of medical expenses.
The child has a permanently disabled right arm, Lewis said.
The lawsuit named a nurse-midwife, Rhonda Bertholf, and the medical practice she was associated with, Richard M. Valentine Jr. M.D. PC.
However, the attorney said Valentine had nothing to do with the delivery of the child in November 2006.
The trial started Monday, and the jury returned a verdict Friday after deliberating for about five hours, he said.
Neither Bertholf nor her attorneys could be reached Friday.
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Mark S, the injuries this little boy sustained likely occurred due to shoulder dystocia. SD is a disaster that can occur regardless of who attends the birth. All birth care providers, both obstetricians and midwives, spend hours training to handle this kind of emergency. We all learn maneuvers intended to “unstick” the shoulder and prevent injury to the baby. Sometimes those maneuvers work and sometimes, despite our best efforts, they don’t. Just as many obstetricians as midwives have had a dystocia occur on their watch. A c-section cannot prevent it; by the time it happens, it is too late for surgery.
My thoughts are with the boy, his family and Rhonda, who has served this community safely and well for many years.
Tara Smith,CNM
Mid-wife?
There's your answer...why wasn't the baby delivered by a doctor? Remember, you get what you pay for in this world, no more, no less...