Parents of baby girl claim daughter’s neck was broken by hospital worker and facility tried to hide it
Grieving parents of a girl who tragically died after a Florida hospital worker allegedly broke her neck have launched legal action against the facility.
Gianna Lopera gave birth to her daughter Jahxy Peets at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies on June 12, 2022, when she was just 24 weeks pregnant.
The girl was immediately intubated and admitted to the intensive care unit as a result of her premature arrival.
But two weeks after her birth, a neurological consultation was requested because healthcare providers noticed that her limbs had stopped moving.
Grieving parents, Gianna Lopera, 24, and Jahmair Peets. On October 28, a girl who tragically died after a hospital worker in Florida allegedly broke her neck initiated legal action against the facility
Gianna’s partner Jahmair Peets said a bruise was subsequently discovered on their daughter’s spine.
He said: ‘They don’t know why she presented this and unfortunately she can’t move her hands. The hospital also said her neck and the back of her head suddenly became swollen.”
An MRI later concluded that the newborn’s neck had been broken. Experts who reviewed the case claimed the injury was caused by “extremely excessive force.”
Doctors familiar with the case asserted that “this cannot happen accidentally” and said there is evidence of “cord signal abnormalities, enlargement and suspected hemorrhage involving portions of the cervical and thoracic cord.”
The claim goes there was no note made in the medical record documenting an event of excessive force and there was no indication that an investigation was conducted after the injury was discovered.
Experts who reviewed Jahxy’s medical records determined that her neck was broken on purpose, sharing that “this cannot happen accidentally” and that the injury was caused by “extremely excessive force.”
Jaxhy eventually succumbed to injuries sustained, resulting in her death on November 25 of that same year, aged just 165 days.
This is what lawyer Nicole Kruegel says of the heartbroken couple McClatchy News: ‘She couldn’t breathe on her own, her organs were shutting down… it was just a very slow death.’
From the couple court case claims the hospital failed to name the person responsible for the fatal injuries.
“For all the parents know, this person who did this could have done it intentionally, or if they did it accidentally, they did it because they don’t know what they’re doing, and they’re still in the NICU. babies as far as we know,” said attorney Nicole Kruegel (photo).
It is also alleged that the hospital then attempted to cover up the actions of their staffer.
“This traumatic event was not recognized or reported and the records indicate that an attempt was made to cover up the cause of Jahxy’s injuries,” the complaint said.
“For all the parents know, this person who did this could have done it intentionally, or if they did it accidentally, they did it because they don’t know what they’re doing, and they’re still in the NICU. babies as far as we know,” Kruegel said.
Before Gianna and Jahmair filed their lawsuit, the hospital admitted responsibility for their daughter’s death Florida Statute 766.207which would limit the amount of damages the family could recover through arbitration.
“Jahxy’s parents reject the confession and choose to fight for justice,” Kreugal said.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help cover the costs of Jahxy’s care before her death, as well as ongoing costs for the family
With their lawsuit, Jahxy’s parents are seeking more than $50,000 in damages and are demanding a jury trial. Pictured: Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando, Florida
If Jahxy’s parents accepted the hospital admission, Kruegel said the lawsuit would only revolve around financial damages.
“We could never find out what happened to Jahxy,” Kruegel says.
“What really upsets me about this case is that the hospital is admitting liability and trying to take this case to arbitration.”
Jahxy’s parents say they have no explanation for how this happened and remain desperate for answers to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
With their lawsuit, Jahxy’s parents are seeking more than $50,000 in damages and are demanding a jury trial.
The grief-stricken parents will hold a press conference outside the hospital on October 21 to demand responsibility for their extreme devastation.
A GoFundMe This page was created to help cover the costs of Jaxhy’s care before her death, as well as ongoing costs for the family.