David and Cara Cook, individually and on behalf of Michael Cook, a minor, v. Stanford Hospital and the Palo Alto Medical Clinic

Medical malpractice claim by and on behalf of Michael Cook against Stanford Hospital and the Palo Alto Medical Clinic for failing to diagnose and treat his genetic disease with resulting brain damage. Michael was born with the metabolic disorder PKU, or phenylketonuria, which allows the buildup of an amino acid that is toxic to the central nervous system. According to medical experts, the disorder occurs once every 10,000 to 15,000 births and can be detected by a test that is required by law for all newborns. If it is diagnosed early, it can usually be controlled by a restrictive, lifelong low-protein diet. If untreated, it can cause severe and permanent retardation.

The hospital conducted its PKU test too early -- four hours after Michael's birth -- to detect the condition, and the clinic pediatrician never tested the boy despite seeing signs of major developmental problems. Michael's disease wasn't diagnosed until he was nearly 6, too late for treatment. By then, his mother was pregnant with another son, whose PKU was diagnosed soon after birth and who is functioning normally.