A mother in New York City has been awarded a sum of $50 million after a jury found substantial evidence to incriminate a doctor who mistreated while she was giving birth. The woman is currently suffering damage to her reporductive organs as a result of the medical malpractice.
The Bronx Supreme Court bestowed the cash aid to Llaulin Cruz, 38, so she could cope with future pain and suffering caused by her traumatizing delivery. Cruz's horrendous ordeal happened in 2009 at the hands of Dr. Michael Ihemaguba, an obstetrician at St. Barnabas Hospital.
Medical Lapses In The Delivery Room
According to NY Daily News, Ihemaguba urged Cruz to push further even though her newborn daughter's head was already out. The doctor also performed an episiotomy, a surgical cut between the vagina and anus to widen the vaginal opening. Cruz's camp insisted that the procedure, which left her severely scarred, was absolutely unnecessary.
Additionally, Ihemaguba allegedly did not inform Cruz of what he had done. Cruz was still oblivious to her condition when she became pregnant with her son in 2010.
The Bronx native decided to deliver her baby boy through a midwife. Unaware of Cruz's condition, the midwife delivered the baby vaginally, worsening Cruz's tissue tears in the process.
In the years leading up to the formal complaint, Cruz claimed she had undergone several surgeries to try and repair the tissue damage. None of which alleviated her pain.
"Most of the time I'm having sharp pain in my private area,' said Cruz during a press conference filmed by NBC. "I'm always going to be in pain, always have a problem going to the bathroom. Be like that the rest of my life."
Doctor Says Cruz Was Amenable To The Procedure
In his defense, Ihemaguba maintained that he had done nothing wrong. He claimed to have repaired the tear immediately after Cruz's daughter was born. He also had medical records showing Cruz had no complaints after the delivery. He criticized the jury for basing their decision on emotion, not hard facts.
The jury Wednesday found that Ihemaguba was 90% at fault for Cruz's condition while 10% of the blame was attributed to the midwife. Ihemaguba said he is still a licensed medical practitioner, but he has been away from the profession the last few years due to spinal problems.
