The parents of a premature baby born in June 2022 are suing Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. They claim the hospital’s negligence led to their baby’s broken neck and subsequent death.
Gianna Lopera, the baby’s mother, expressed her heartbreak: “Our heart is broken because we could not protect ourselves from Winnie Palmer Hospital. The place where she was supposed to be the safest.”
The lawsuit, filed last Friday, states that Jazzy was born prematurely, weighing only 1 pound 1.8 ounces. Her father, Jahmiah Peets, described her as a fighter despite her small size.
According to the lawsuit, there was no evidence of “birth-related trauma” at birth. However, an MRI taken on June 29 revealed that Jazzy’s neck was broken. The suit argues that such an injury could only result from excessive force when handling a newborn. It notes that there are no medical records documenting the event that caused the injury or indicating any investigation into it.
The parents allege that Jazzy suffered a debilitating spinal cord injury, leading to paralysis and an inability to breathe independently. Tragically, she died on November 25, 2022, at just 165 days old. Her parents never had the chance to bring her home.
“We never celebrated a single milestone,” Lopera said. “We only held her four times. It should never have been that way.”
In response, Orlando Health issued a statement to WESH, emphasizing the complexities of caring for extremely premature infants. “We offer our deepest sympathies to this family and any family who suffers the loss of a child,” the statement read. “However, we believe that those who provide care in this environment should be judged on facts, not speculation. We look forward to discussing the facts of this case in the appropriate forum.”
Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital is known for having one of the largest and most sophisticated Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) in the country, providing high-quality care to vulnerable patients.
The parents are seeking compensation for damages and requesting a jury trial.
Related topics:
- Fat Joe Attributes 200-Pound Weight Loss to Ozempic and Diet Changes
- Hurricanes Helene and Milton Leave Floridians Seeking Relief from the American Red Cross
- The UK Sleep Tracker Industry: A £270 Million Concern for Our Sleep Health?
