Maricopa County Settles Medical Malpractice Claim

Maricopa County, Ariz., will pay $312,000 to the family of a boy who suffered permanent injuries during childbirth more than six years ago.

The county’s Board of Supervisors approved the settlement last week.

According to a medical malpractice claim, the medical staff at Maricopa Medical Center failed to offer Estela Cruz a Cesarean section in May 2003 despite ultrasound scans that depicted a baby of “enormous size.”

As a result, the claim says her son Jose was delivered vaginally, causing severe damage to his right shoulder as well as injuries to the mother.

The claim says Jose Cruz weighed 12 pounds, 1 ounce when he was born.

The medical malpractice claim was filed against MedPro, the hospital’s contracted physicians group.

Maricopa County operated the medical center at the time.

MedPro and the county settled the case for an undisclosed amount and county’s portion was $312,000.