Pennsylvania Jury Awards $55M for Boy’s Injuries at Birth

A jury in northeastern Pennsylvania has awarded $55 million to a family in a medical malpractice lawsuit.

The Express-Times said the Lehigh County jury decided Monday that St. Luke’s University Hospital and one of its doctors are to blame for Matthew Crowell’s disabilities resulting from his November 2009 birth.

The jury concluded after a two-week trial that St. Luke’s and Dr. Ronald Kirner ignored signs that Matthew wasn’t getting enough oxygen during birth and should be delivered by cesarean section.

Mark and Sharon Petrosky Crowell alleged that oxygen deprivation at birth resulted in health problems for Matthew Crowell, who is now 4 years old, including cerebral palsy and severe developmental delays.

A St. Luke’s spokesman said the hospital provided appropriate care and didn’t cause harm to the baby.