Tragedy Strikes Nine Families
A chain of tragedy links nine families whose babies died at Tampa General Hospital. Each of the babies suffered necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, a rare infection that is most often found in the intestines of premature infants, the Tampa Tribune reports.

March 30, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Tragedy Strikes Nine Families

Article provided by Henry E. Valenzuela & Associates - Visit us at http://www.vallaw.com/

A chain of tragedy links nine families whose babies died at Tampa General Hospital. Each of the babies suffered necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, a rare infection that is most often found in the intestines of premature infants, the Tampa Tribune reports.

One of those babies was Robert Gardner Jr., born 10 weeks premature on July 26, 2003 at Regency Medical Center in Winter Haven to parents Robert Gardner Sr. and mother Allyson. Weighing just over three pounds, the baby was placed on a ventilator. After he experienced abdominal swelling, his physician at Regency determined that the baby had NEC, a lawsuit filed by the family claims.

Five years after the death of Baby Gardner, a jury awarded his family $12 million for pain and suffering.

Inaction and Death

After the diagnosis of NEC was made at Regency, the baby was flown to Tampa General when he was less than three weeks old. About two days later, Tampa General's then head of pediatrics, Robert Nelson, became involved in the baby's care, according to the Tribune and the parents' lawsuit.

Nelson testified that he contacted a neonatal surgeon who told him "surgery would more likely than not prevent the infant's demise," according to the suit. Baby Gardner was not transferred for the surgery. He died the next day.

Afterwards, members of the family took turns holding the dead infant. The baby's grandmother, Janet Parham, said her daughter "was crying that she wants her baby back."

Tampa General is appealing the jury's verdict in the lawsuit. Lawsuits filed by the other eight families are pending.

Press Release Contact Information:

PR Dept
Tampa, Florida
US
Voice: 813-217-5613
Website: Visit Our Website