With a normal cord insertion, the umbilical cord connects to the center of the placenta. The center is the most secure place of attachment. Normal attachment supports the seamless flow of nutrients from the mother to the placenta and the fetus.

Marginal umbilical cord insertion (MCI), also known as battledore placenta, affects the health of newborn babies and can cause them a lot of pain. During delivery, if the umbilical cord is inserted too far into the baby’s abdomen, it can cause severe birth injury.

The condition poses a significant risk to the baby and might result in bruising, tearing of the walls of the intestines, or even an intestinal fistula. Even though these complications are rare, your baby may need to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to receive additional nurturing until they are healthy enough to be moved to the nursery.

School age children often struggle due to the serious injury they experienced during labor due to medical negligence.

If a child sustains personal injury or an injury occurred during the birthing process, then they may have a birth injury claim (or birth injury lawsuits), which is also referred to as a medical malpractice claim or personal injury claims.

However, any legal claim, including those for birth injuries like a child medical malpractice lawsuit, must be brought within the relevant statute of limitations

Introduction to Lebron v. Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, 237 Ill.2d 217 (2010): A Battle over Litigation Costs

On a cold night in the end of October of 2005, Francis Lebron entered Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Cook County, Illinois to undergo a Caesarean section. After being admitted, she was placed under the care of Dr. Levi D’Ancona and Florence Martinoz, a registered nurse. However, things did not go swimmingly. Her child, Abigaile Lebron, was born with severe brain injury and impairment as well as cerebral palsy. Consequently, doctors discovered that she would not develop brain functions normally or be able to eat without the assistance of a feeding tube. For the economic and noneconomic damages (i.e. trauma, medical costs, and reduced quality of life to name a few), the Lebrons sued the hospital as well as the attending doctor and nurse.

The family soon ran into the wall of existing laws. Just in that same year, through 735 ILCS 5/2-1706.5, the Illinois state legislature had put a cap on non-economic damages at $500,000 for doctors and $1,000,000 for hospitals for “any medical malpractice action or wrongful death action based on medical malpractice.” The Lebrons’ claim asked for a lot more than that. Based off of the Illinois Supreme Court’s ruling in Best v. Taylor Machine Works (179 Ill.2d 367 (1997)), the circuit court held that 2-1706.5 was unconstitutional as an improper exercise of legislative power and declared the entire act void. Unhappy with the result, the defendants appealed to the Supreme Court.

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