£8mn damages over birth brain injury

A boy who was left disabled after he was deprived of oxygen at birth has been awarded damages of £8mn. He suffers from choreoathetoid cerebral palsy because he was deprived of oxygen for 17 minutes during his birth. Midwives failed to call an obstetrician when there were indications of foetal distress shortly before he was born. As a result, he suffered damage to his brain. The condition has left him unable to feed or dress himself properly. Independent medical experts were of the view that if he had been born 17 minutes earlier he would not have suffered any damage. His family will receive a lump sum of £2mn. This is to be followed by annual payments, bringing the total up to £8mn.