On March 25, 2025, a Missouri medical malpractice birth injury jury returned its verdict in the amount of $48.1 million in favor of the parents of a baby that suffered profound injuries as a result of alleged medical negligence during his birth. The Missouri birth injury jury awarded $28.1 million in compensatory damages and an additional $20 million in punitive damages against the defendants, Mercy Hospital, Mercy Clinic, and Dr. Daniel McNeive, after four hours of jury deliberations.
The parents’ lawsuit alleged that the defendants negligently allowed the mother, Sarah Anyan, to push for more than twelve hours during labor and delivery despite signs of fetal distress that required an earlier Cesarean delivery. As a result, the newborn suffered seizures less than 24 hours after birth. He spent 46 days in the NICU and suffered permanent brain injury, resulting in cerebral palsy, according to the parents’ medical malpractice claims.
Both parents had previously worked at Mercy Hospital: Sarah, as a cardiac nurse, and her husband as a respiratory therapist. Sarah now provides full-time care for her son.
Mercy Hospital issued a statement after the verdict on March 26, 2025: “First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers remain with the plaintiff and his family for his continued comfort and care. We thank the members of the jury and the court for their time and effort on this difficult case. Mercy and its physicians never want patients or their families to suffer and believe in the care that was provided in this case. Mercy disagrees with the outcome and is reviewing all options, including the possibility of appeal.”
The plaintiffs’ Missouri medical malpractice lawyer stated after the verdict: “Plaintiff’s attorneys argued Dr. McNeive should have delivered the baby by C-section eight hours before he allowed Sarah Anyan to give birth vaginally … With their punitive award of $20 Million, the jury sent a strong message to Mercy Clinic and their doctor: Stop these dangerous labor and delivery practices so other families don’t suffer the same result at Mercy Hospital.”
The amount of this verdict is believed to be the largest medical malpractice verdict in Missouri.
Mercy states on its website: “The spacious, private labor and delivery rooms at all of our birth centers provide a comfortable, safe and supportive birthing environment. From the moment you arrive, Mercy’s experienced registered nurses monitor your progress while delivering high-touch, high-tech care in soothing surroundings. Whether you have a vaginal delivery, cesarean section or vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), we’ll be there to support you. If you need specialist care during labor or delivery, we’ll coordinate your care and make sure you’re in expert hands.
If you or a loved one may have been injured (or worse) as a result of birth injury medical negligence in Missouri or in another U.S. state, you should promptly find a Missouri medical malpractice lawyer (Missouri birth injury lawyer), or a birth injury medical malpractice lawyer in your state, who may investigate your birth injury medical malpractice claim for you and represent you and your loved one in a birth injury medical malpractice case, if appropriate.
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