A recent record-setting medical malpractice verdict in St. Louis has drawn national attention to the devastating consequences of birth injuries and the importance of accountability in the delivery room.
In March 2025, a St. Louis County jury awarded $48.1 million to the family of a boy who suffered severe and permanent brain damage that led to cerebral palsy after an obstetrician mismanaged a delivery.
The result is reportedly the largest medical malpractice verdict in Missouri history.
The child, now 6 years old, will require a lifetime of care and support due to the substandard care he received at Mercy Hospital in 2018.
This case is a reminder that even highly trained medical professionals can make critical errors, leaving families facing unimaginable challenges.
The Birth Injury Justice Center is dedicated to helping families of children harmed at birth get the compensation and justice they deserve. The attorneys in our network have helped families nationwide secure over $1 billion.
If your child was injured, we may be able to help your family, too.
Find out right now with a free case review.
Details of the Missouri Birth Injury Case
The lawsuit alleged that a Mercy Clinic OB-GYN (a doctor affiliated with Mercy Hospital) failed to properly manage the child’s delivery, leading to a delayed cesarean section and a prolonged lack of oxygen.
As a result, the baby suffered a hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) brain injury that led to cerebral palsy. Tragically, he will now require around-the-clock care for the rest of his life.
The boy’s mother, Sarah Anyan, was a nurse in the same hospital system. During her labor, there were signs of fetal distress that raised concerns about her baby’s oxygen levels, according to reports.
Despite this, the doctor allegedly downplayed the severity of the situation and delayed necessary medical intervention, allowing Anyan to push during labor for 12 hours.
The lawsuit claimed that this delay directly led to the baby’s oxygen deprivation and subsequent brain injury. During the trial, the family’s Missouri birth injury lawyers presented evidence showing that Mercy’s own internal guidelines were not followed.
The jury sided with the family, ordering Mercy Hospital, Mercy Clinic, and the doctor to pay $18.1 million to cover the child’s medical needs and other losses, plus $30 million to punish the health care providers for their wrongdoing. The verdict sends a strong message about the seriousness of medical errors during childbirth.
“We are so grateful that the jury listened to our story after years of fighting for our son. With this verdict, we know that our son’s future is secure.”
– Sarah and Blake Anyan, the child’s parents
How Birth Injury Compensation Can Make the Road Ahead Easier
When a child suffers a serious birth injury, families are often left facing not just emotional heartbreak but enormous financial challenges.
Many parents are suddenly thrust into a new reality — one filled with medical appointments, therapy sessions, and worries about how to afford the long-term care their child may need. That’s where birth injury compensation can make a real difference.
A birth injury lawsuit can provide the financial resources families need to care for their child now and in the future. This money can help cover hospital bills, ongoing treatment, therapy, medical equipment, and even home modifications to make daily life more accessible.
Just as importantly, compensation can give parents peace of mind by replacing lost income due to caregiving responsibilities. In this case, Sarah Anyan needed to quit her job to care for her son.
The money secured by the family’s Missouri cerebral palsy lawyer will allow them to provide their child with the care he needs for the rest of his life.
Get Help From a Birth Injury Lawyer
If your child suffered a preventable birth injury, you don’t have to face the future alone. A skilled birth injury lawyer can help you understand your legal rights, determine whether medical negligence played a role, and guide you through the process of seeking justice.
Taking legal action can seem overwhelming, especially when you’re focused on caring for your child. But experienced attorneys can handle the legal heavy lifting for you, so you can focus on your family.
At the Birth Injury Justice Center, we connect families with trusted legal partners who have a proven track record of securing meaningful compensation in birth injury cases.
Don’t wait to get the help you deserve: Call us right now at (800) 914-1562 or get a free case review to take the first step toward justice.