Jamari
From Joy to Trauma: A Newborn’s Lifelong Injury Caused by Delivery Room Negligence
On January 16, 2019, Rachel Hudson was admitted to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola for induction of labor at 40 weeks and 5 days gestation. With her obstetrician, Dr. Charles Shane Medlock, overseeing her care, Rachel’s labor progressed to delivery on January 17. What should have been a joyous occasion turned into a traumatic and life-altering event for Rachel and her newborn son, Jamari Vickers-Hudson.
During delivery, a series of critical errors occurred, resulting in a severe brachial plexus injury to Jamari’s right arm. The delivery was complicated by a tight nuchal cord and shoulder dystocia—a condition that requires skilled and cautious maneuvers to safely deliver the infant. However, instead of utilizing appropriate techniques, excessive lateral traction was applied during the delivery of Jamari’s shoulders, causing permanent damage to his brachial plexus.
The consequences were immediately apparent. Jamari’s right arm was immobile at birth, with his wrist flexed and elbow extended. These signs indicated a brachial plexus injury at the cervical spine through the T1 level. Subsequent medical evaluations and surgeries revealed the extent of the damage. Jamari required nerve graft reconstructions of the upper trunk, the anterior division, and the posterior division, as well as a spinal accessory nerve transfer to repair his injured suprascapular nerve. Despite these interventions, the injury has resulted in a lifelong disability.
The alleged failures in care by Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola and Dr. Medlock were numerous and egregious, leading to devastating and avoidable harm to Jamari. The medical team failed to employ proper techniques to address shoulder dystocia, ultimately compromising Jamari’s safe delivery. Instead, the use of excessive lateral traction during delivery directly caused a brachial plexus injury, an outcome that is largely preventable with proper training and care.
The evidence in this case will show that the actions of the medical team deviated significantly from accepted standards of care, falling far below the level of skill and treatment recognized as appropriate by reasonably prudent healthcare providers. This negligence extended to their failure to exercise reasonable care throughout the delivery process, culminating in an injury that has permanently impacted Jamari’s life. These breaches in care underscore a profound disregard for the basic obligations owed to both mother and child during childbirth.
These deviations from the standard of care were committed by employees, agents, and/or apparent agents of Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, including Dr. Medlock, all acting within the scope of their employment.
The impact of these failures cannot be overstated. Jamari has endured significant physical and emotional suffering, requiring multiple surgeries, extensive rehabilitation, and ongoing care. His life and future have been irreversibly altered by this preventable injury.
At Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa, we are committed to fighting for justice on behalf of families like the Vickers-Hudsons. We understand the profound impact that medical negligence can have on a family’s life, and we are dedicated to holding healthcare providers accountable for their actions. Our goal is to secure the compensation and resources needed to support Jamari’s care and provide his family with the justice they deserve.
If you or a loved one has experienced harm due to medical negligence, we at Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa are here to help. Let us work together to demand accountability and ensure that no family has to endure such a tragedy again.
