South Carolina Jury Awards $4M to Parents of Child with Brain Injury

A jury has awarded more than $4 million to the parents of a South Carolina infant who died after suffering a brain injury during birth.

The family’s attorney told The Herald of Rock Hill that a York County jury ruled against Piedmont Medical Center. Hospital officials said they were surprised by the verdict and are considering their legal options.

Robin and Brice Wilson’s lawsuit argued that a nurse trainee assigned to the expectant mother misread fetal heart monitoring data that showed the child needed emergency intervention.

Their child, Sierra Wilson, was born Nov. 18, 2003, with a severe brain injury due to oxygen deprivation. She died three months later of complications from cerebral palsy.

Hospital officials offered sympathy but defended its handing of the care.