Thomas and Valerie Shea v. Stephen A. Liverman, et al.

Medical malpractice claim by the parents of a brain damaged boy who claimed that Stephen A. Liverman acted below the standard of care and was negligent in his care and treatment of their now 10-year-old son. They filed suit in 2001 after a nurse who participated the birth of the boy approached them at a family picnic and told them of acts, errors and omissions that she believe caused their son's brain damage. Patrick T. Shea, has an IQ of 49, suffers from severe learning disabilities and has no ability to care for himself.

Valerie Shea went to her obstetrician for a routine prenatal checkup on Nov. 9, 1992, during which it was determined that Patrick's heart was beating at more than 200 beats per minute, a life-threatening condition known as fetal tachycardia. She was rushed to Anne Arundel Medical Center, where an emergency Caesarean section at 12:24 p.m. When he was delivered, Patrick's heart was still beating at a very high rate and he was blue. Dr. Liverman gave Patrick oxygen by mask and tried to revive him by placing ice on his cheeks, but did not insert an oxygen tube down his breathing passage until 1:20 p.m., some 56 minutes after his birth. At 1:38 p.m. Dr. Liverman, at the suggestion of a nurse, administered a dose of a heart drug called adenosine. Within five minutes, Patrick's heart rate returned to normal and his color to a healthy pink. The plaintiffs claimed that argued that oxygen deprivation for 80 minutes after the delivery led to severe and permanent brain damage.

The doctor and the Annapolis hospital denied any fault on their part and argued that other factors may have caused the boy's retardation.

Plaintiffs' verdict for $6.4 million. The jury awarded $1.4 million for Patrick's future medical expenses, $3.5 million for his lost earning capacity, and $1.5 million for pain and suffering.

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