Jury Awards $17.8M Malpractice Verdict Against Colorado Hospital

An Arapahoe County, Colo. jury has handed down a $17.8 million malpractice judgment against Children’s Hospital Colorado after finding the hospital’s staff was responsible for giving the wrong dose of medication to a 4-day-old girl.

The Denver Post reported Naomi Pressey, now 7 years old, went into cardiac arrest before she was scheduled for surgery to repair a congenital heart defect in February 2008. Family attorneys say the accident caused a brain injury, which resulted in cerebral palsy and other severe medical problems that will require a lifetime of around-the-clock medical care.

The attorneys say Naomi also suffers from significant intellectual disability, cognitive impairment and motor skill impairment.

The hospital issued a statement Friday saying “we are sorry that the Pressey family suffered this unfortunate outcome.” The hospital also indicated it might appeal the jury’s decision.