Birth Injury: Gorshein v. OhioHealth Corp., et al.

Sommers Schwartz attorney Matthew Turner filed a birth injury lawsuit on behalf of a minor child and her parents for severe injuries the child sustained during birth.

Lucy Gorshein was one of the twins carried by a surrogate for parents David and Scott Gorshein. The pregnancy was healthy. Labor was induced at 37 weeks at Dublin Methodist Hospital, and the other healthy baby was delivered without complications. Unfortunately, Lucy’s delivery did not proceed as smoothly.

Lucy’s heartbeat began to weaken, and the surrogate experienced severe pain and abdominal bleeding. Doctors attempted vacuum delivery multiple times before performing an emergency cesarean section. The surrogate’s uterus had ruptured, filling her abdomen with blood.

Lucy was born nearly 45 minutes after her twin, suffering from oxygen deprivation and a severely slow heartbeat. She was not breathing or moving on her own. Once the care team stabilized her condition, she was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Lucy suffered a severe hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, seizures, and cerebral palsy. She has permanent global developmental delays.

Plaintiffs allege that the OB-GYNs, Elizabeth N. Koffler, M.D., and James F. Beattie, M.D., violated the standard of care by failing to manage and perform the delivery properly. Their complaint alleges that Lucy’s injuries were a direct result of the negligence and malpractice of the doctors and staff, including failing to monitor maternal vitals and fetal wellbeing properly and delaying the performance of an urgent C-section.

The medical malpractice complaint alleges that had these steps been taken, Lucy would have been delivered without injury or harm. The plaintiffs ask for compensation for Lucy’s pain and suffering, disfigurement, and other permanent injuries, along with the expenses associated with her future care and treatment. They also seek compensation for the loss of her love and companionship and the value of their future caretaking services due to her severe and permanent injuries.