Anyone who has taken a CPR training course in Delaware has likely been taught to remember “ABC”. ABC, in this instance, refers to airway, breathing and circulation when checking a person who has stopped breathing or has no pulse. Trainees are taught to access the person’s airway first before any other system because the other systems will not work if the airway is blocked. Sadly, one family in another state now knows the unfortunate reality of how essential the airway was for their daughter’s quality of life. Their daughter’s medical team was not able to provide an airway for their daughter quickly enough, and she suffered disabling brain injuries.
When the girl was around the age of eight, she was admitted for a complicated tracheal surgery. It is unclear why she required the surgery, but her trachea required repair. After her surgery, she remained on a breathing tube to assist her breathing as she healed. On the sixth day, her airway became compromised and it allegedly took the medical team approximately 20 minutes to re-open her airway.
During the process, the girl’s brain remained without oxygen. Tests confirmed the girl’s resulting brain injuries. She now cannot talk, walk or care for herself. It is expected that she will need help with daily basic functions for the rest of her life. Reportedly, the girl’s parents filed a lawsuit and settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.
In addition to trying to cope with their daughter’s lost quality of life, her parents must now also cope with how to finance her care. While lawsuits and settlements will not reverse circumstances, they can assist in relieving the related financial burden. In addition, compensation can assist in expensive necessary medical care. Other families in Delaware who suspect their loved one’s brain injuries may be the result of the negligence of another could also have a qualified case applicable for a civil lawsuit. Personal injury attorneys can review the underlying circumstances and advise families accordingly.
Source: argusleader.com, “Lawsuit on behalf of brain damaged girl settles“, Jonathan Ellis, Nov. 3, 2017
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