What Happened When Racine Hospital’s Administration of Labor-Inducing Drug Resulted in Child’s Cerebral Palsy?
A Racine, Wisconsin family won a $10 million medical malpractice lawsuit last month after proving that improper administration of Pitocin during childbirth caused their daughter’s cerebral palsy. The February 2025 verdict found both Ascension All Saints Hospital and the attending obstetrician negligent in their use of the labor-inducing drug. Six-year-old Ka’Mya, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy before her second birthday, requires constant care and is primarily nonverbal as a result of brain damage that occurred during her birth. Attorney Matthew Patterson demonstrated that medical staff administered excessive Pitocin without proper monitoring, leading to complications that deprived the infant of oxygen.
5 Key Points
- A Wisconsin jury awarded $10 million to a family after finding Ascension All Saints Hospital and an obstetrician negligent in administering Pitocin.
- Ka’Mya, now six years old, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a result of brain damage sustained during birth.
- Medical staff administered 20 mil-units of Pitocin per minute for several hours, causing excessive contractions.
- Monica Cerna, the mother, stated she was never informed about the Pitocin administration during her labor.
- The case is significant as 91% of medical malpractice cases in Wisconsin typically rule in favor of hospitals and medical teams.
How Did Excessive Pitocin Administration Cause Ka’Mya’s Brain Damage During Birth?
The lawsuit centered on the misuse of Pitocin, a synthetic form of the natural hormone oxytocin that is commonly used to induce or accelerate labor. According to court testimony, medical staff at Ascension All Saints Hospital administered a “relatively high dose” of Pitocin to Monica Cerna when her labor wasn’t progressing quickly enough. Attorney Matthew Patterson explained the specifics of the drug administration that led to Ka’Mya’s injuries.
“Some moms will get a lot of it and have no reaction at all. Some moms will get a little dose of it and have a very profound reaction,” Patterson stated. “In this particular case, they gave a relatively high dose of the drug, 20 mil-units a minute for many hours, that caused too many contractions, which occurred for many hours.”
The excessive contractions resulting from the high Pitocin dosage ultimately led to severe fetal distress. When Ka’Mya was finally delivered via emergency C-section, she was not breathing and had very little pulse. She required immediate transfer to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before being moved to Children’s Hospital for specialized care.
Medical evidence presented in court included brain scans taken before and after birth, which clearly showed the damage that occurred during the labor and delivery process. The evidence convinced the jury that proper monitoring and management of the Pitocin administration would have prevented Ka’Mya’s injuries.
What Has Life Been Like for Ka’Mya and Her Family Since the Birth Injury?
Six years after the traumatic birth, Ka’Mya lives with significant limitations due to her cerebral palsy diagnosis. Court evidence included a video of Monica helping her daughter with daily activities, illustrating the level of care she requires. While mostly nonverbal, Ka’Mya has learned to communicate through sign language and can give high-fives, small victories in a life permanently altered by medical negligence.
“It’s an emotional thing for me to speak of because I love her, and I wouldn’t change her. I mean, I want her to have a normal life, but yeah,” Monica Cerna testified, her statement trailing off with evident emotion.
The impact of the birth injury extends beyond the physical and developmental challenges Ka’Mya faces. Monica described the confusion and distress she experienced immediately following the birth when she was separated from her newborn without adequate explanation from the medical staff.
“So, I asked, where is my baby, why can’t I hear her? And then they were like, oh, she’s right here,” Cerna recounted, describing communication that the jury ultimately found fell below the standard of care. It wasn’t until later, at Children’s Hospital, that Monica was shown brain scans revealing the extent of her daughter’s injuries and began to understand what had happened during the birth process.
Why Does This Verdict Represent a Significant Legal Precedent in Wisconsin Medical Malpractice Cases?
The February 2025 verdict marks a notable departure from typical Wisconsin medical malpractice litigation outcomes. According to Patterson’s legal team, approximately 91% of medical malpractice cases in the state typically result in rulings favoring hospitals and medical providers, making this verdict particularly significant for patients’ rights advocates.
“It’s totally preventable, and it’s not anybody trying to hurt anybody else; it’s truly carelessness, negligence,” Patterson explained, emphasizing that the case highlighted systemic failures rather than intentional wrongdoing. The attorney successfully demonstrated that standard protocols for Pitocin administration were not followed in Ka’Mya’s case.
The $10 million award will help provide for Ka’Mya’s extensive ongoing medical care and therapy needs. The funds are vital given the lifelong nature of cerebral palsy, which typically requires continuous medical intervention, adaptive equipment, and specialized educational support.
The case also raises broader questions about informed consent in labor and delivery situations. Monica Cerna testified that she was never told about the Pitocin administration, stating, “It was just very confusing, and I just felt like I wasn’t being, they weren’t telling me what was going on as much as they should have, is how I felt.” This aspect of the case highlights concerns about communication and transparency in high-stress medical environments.
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