FED: Hospital operators to pay compo over botched baby delivery

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2003
FED: Hospital operators to pay compo over botched baby delivery

A doctor ordered to pay nearly $11 million to a woman left severely brain damaged after
a botched delivery has won his bid to have hospital operators cover half the sum.

Sydney woman CALANDRE SIMPSON, now aged 24, was born by emergency caesarian section
following five failed attempts to deliver her with forceps.

Her obstetrician, Dr ROBERT DIAMOND, admitted his negligence left her severely disabled
with cerebral palsy and was ordered to pay compensation.

But Dr DIAMOND said the Trustees of the Sisters of St Joseph -- operators of the un-named
hospital where Ms SIMPSON was born -- should pay half the amount.

He said the hospital was equally to blame as it administered an overdose of a drug
to Ms SIMPSON'S mother to induce labour.

Justice TONY WHEALY initially found that the overdose did not contribute to Ms SIMPSON's injury.

But the NSW Court of Appeal has found the overdose was a cause of Ms SIMPSON'S brain damage.

It's ordered the Trustees of the Sisters of St Joseph to pay half the compensation payout.

AAP RTV mj/nf/rd/rp

KEYWORD: SIMPSON (SYDNEY)

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