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Font ResizeCounty officials Tuesday are expected to approve a $2.8 million settlement of a medical malpractice suit filed against physicians and staff at County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance.
The lawsuit, filed in April 2009, claims medical staff failed to perform an emergency cesarean section after a pregnant 18-year-old showed signs of distress during labor.
The woman, Guadalupe Fernandez, gave birth on March 21, 2008, to a son who was later diagnosed with neurological injuries from fetal distress, according to court records.
Attorneys for Fernandez and the county could not be reached for comment.
In addition to the settlement, the county also will pay a $16,208 Medi-Cal lien issued against the family, and will waive the hospital bill of $19,455.
Records show the county also has paid nearly $52,000 in legal costs, including attorney fees, in the case.
The Los Angeles County Claims Board reviews legal settlements and recommended the amount, which still must be approved by the Board of Supervisors.
As part of any settlement, the county hospital is required to devise a plan of correction, which has already been implemented, officials said.
The hospital conducted a systemwide survey to assess its evaluation and documentation protocols, along with training and credentialing procedures.
Staff at the hospital completed a training session on fetal heart monitoring, documents show.
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Harbor-UCLA, a safety-net hospital owned and operated by the county, serves primarily patients insured through Medi-Cal, or those who have no insurance.
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