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In March 2026, a Philadelphia jury awarded $108.6 million to the family of a child who suffered permanent brain damage after a 2018 forceps delivery at what is now Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital.
The birth injury lawsuit alleged that a doctor with Einstein Pediatrics was responsible for the child’s injuries, which affected areas of the brain tied to cognitive and intellectual function. Today, the child is expected to need lifelong care.
When medical professionals fail to meet the accepted standard of care during labor and delivery, families are often left with lifelong consequences. With the help of Pennsylvania birth injury attorneys, the family was able to hold the provider accountable.
No amount of money can reverse a birth injury, but verdicts like this may help families pay for a child’s lifelong care. If your child was harmed, your family may be able to seek compensation too. Get a free case review now to find out if you may qualify.
About the Pennsylvania Birth Injury Lawsuit
The forceps delivery lawsuit, filed in July 2024, alleged that an Einstein Pediatrics physician was negligent during a delivery at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia.
According to the family’s Pennsylvania birth injury lawyer, the baby was delivered with forceps and suffered traumatic brain injuries that caused permanent neurological damage. The injuries affected parts of the brain tied to cognitive and intellectual function.
“He will grow up, he will grow into adolescence, he will grow into a young man, he will grow into an adult, but he will retain the brain of essentially a toddler.”
– Pennsylvania Birth Injury Attorney
Now 7 years old, the child is expected to need lifelong care and support. After hearing the evidence, a Philadelphia jury unanimously awarded the family $108.6 million in damages, most of it for future medical and care expenses over the child’s lifetime.
The verdict is the largest medical malpractice award in Philadelphia since a $183 million birth injury judgment against Penn Medicine in 2023. That verdict later grew to nearly $208 million because of delay damages during the appeals process.
Birth Injuries Caused by Forceps Delivery
Forceps delivery complications are among the known risks of assisted vaginal deliveries. While forceps can be a necessary tool when labor stalls or when the baby needs to be delivered quickly, improper use can cause serious and permanent harm.
Birth injuries caused by forceps can include:
- Brain damage and traumatic brain injuries
- Cephalohematoma, which is blood pooling under the scalp
- Cerebral palsy
- Facial nerve damage
- Intraventricular hemorrhage (brain bleed)
- Seizures
- Skull fractures
When a physician applies excessive force, uses poor technique, or fails to recognize when a C-section would be the safer option, the consequences can be severe.
Medical malpractice may occur when providers do not follow the accepted standard of care and a child is hurt as a result. In these cases, families may be left facing major medical bills, ongoing therapy costs, and lifelong emotional and financial strain.
Find a Birth Injury Lawyer in Pennsylvania
If your child may have been harmed by a medical mistake during labor or delivery, you do not have to figure it out alone. Our team can review what happened and help you understand your legal options.
The right birth injury lawyer can help ease some of the stress by guiding your family through the legal process and fighting to protect your rights.
“A skilled birth injury lawyer knows how to uncover what really happened, even when hospitals or doctors are not forthcoming with answers.”
– Ricky LeBlanc, Birth Injury Lawyer at Sokolove Law
The Birth Injury Justice Center partners with experienced attorneys nationwide who have recovered over $1.1 billion for families affected by birth injuries.
If you believe your child was harmed by medical negligence, we may be able to help. Call us right now at (800) 914-1562 or fill out this form for a free case review to take the first step.
