The physician who delivered the baby failed to take precautions to protect the nerves leading to the baby’s arm. The attending physician should have recognized that the baby was too large to be delivered vaginally. Due to the size of the baby, the baby’s shoulder lodged behind the mother’s pubic bone during delivery. The mother claimed that the doctor applied excessive traction to the baby’s head, which damaged the nerves leading to her baby’s arm. After birth, the mother located a physician who performed surgery to attempt to repair the damaged nerves. This operation resulted in partial improvement of function, but the child will suffer permanent, limited function of her arm. The settlement is expected to pay the child millions over the course of her life.
