Ohio Personal Injury Law Blog

A child's birth is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in a woman's life in Ohio. Everyone hopes for the birth of a healthy baby and entrusts their care to the medical community in the expectation that they will do everything possible to deliver a healthy child. In a recent trial in another state, the jury awarded a mother a substantial sum in her medical malpractice lawsuit.

The woman went to the hospital complaining of discomfort and not feeling well. She was 25 weeks pregnant and was diagnosed as suffering from preeclampsia, a condition resulting in high blood pressure that can be very dangerous to both the mother and the baby. She was informed of her diagnosis but may not have understood the severity of her condition. In lieu of a cesarean section, labor was induced and the baby girl was born two days later. She weighed less than 2 pounds and had suffered severe brain damage.

Hospitals are typically where sick or injured people go to get well. As such, one would certainly expect a certain standard of cleanliness and freedom from bacteria, particularly in a newly opened facility in Ohio. There have been two lawsuits filed against Mount Carmel Grove City, a hospital that opened for patient care in April of this year. The most recent suit stems from a visitor to the hospital contracting a disease that is believed to have been spread through the water system. The presence of a dangerous bacteria in the water supply could be a contributing factor in a medical malpractice lawsuit and could also be grounds for a premises liability claim.

A woman visited a patient in the hospital in May of this year. She was later diagnosed as having contracted the Legionella bacteria, and it is believed she came in contact with the bacteria while visiting the hospital. The bacteria is not spread by casual contact and the hospital's hot water system is believed to be the source. 

Mount Carmel Grove City hospital has reported an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease with at least 14 confirmed cases, including one death. The $361-million facility opened on April 28, and the first case of Legionnaires' was reported on April 29. This could indicate a serious problem with the facility's water system or maintenance practices.

Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia that is caused by the Legionella pneumophila bacteria, which typically enters the system through inhalation. Legionnaires' is generally not transmitted by person-to-person contact. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Legionnaires' disease is commonly associated with buildings with complex water systems where the bacteria can spread.

Football is a dangerous sport. Players wear a significant amount of padding and specially designed helmets in an effort to protect themselves from serious injury. In Ohio and elsewhere, it remains a very popular sport with young men beginning at a very young age. Even with the protection, injuries can still occur. One such injury, that may have contributed to the death of a 22-year-old man, has resulted in a products liability case involving a potentially defective product.

The young man had played football from the age of 8 and played through high school. He played his last game at the age of 18. The man's family were not unaware of the dangers of their son playing football but had spoken with members of the medical community and felt that the safety equipment used provided sufficient protection.