Health Law

Negligent Doctor Tries to Blame Parents

In the early 1980s, Dr. Peter Rosi was criminally prosecuted in Alaska on felony charges of negligent homicide. The case involved the death of a newborn he delivered who had failed to receive the medical attention he needed in a timely manner.

Though acquitted, Rosi was found by the State Medical Board to have shown 'professional incompetence' and to have 'committed a serious error in judgment.'

He subsequently moved to Illinois, where he would be sued 10 times for medical malpractice. But it seems that Rosi would rather blame parents than himself for mistakes that led to brain damage and death in newborns he delivered.

'Eighty percent of complications in childbirth are psychological. Babies can be killed by a mother's attitude,' he said in an interview.

It is unfortunate that a medical professional would turn such a tragedy around on the parents, especially a doctor who uses medical techniques that were popular '50 and 100 years ago.'

The truth is that medical negligence in the delivery room is more likely to cause brain damage and death than the mother's psychological state, if any credence can even be given to his assertion.

In fact, medical malpractice happens all too frequently as many medical lawyers and families can attest. Every year, law firms across the country are winning cases for families of children who have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, brain damage, and other injuries due to the negligence of a doctor or nurse.

Dr. Rosi argues that 'babies die.' Yes, some do. But many babies can live with competent medical care, and everyone is entitled to at least that.

 

Full post as published by Cerebral Palsy Law Blog on May 24, 2009 (boomark / email).