A heartbreaking case has resulted in a family being awarded close to $1 billion after a hospital’s negligence during their baby’s birth left the child with lifelong disabilities. Azaylee, now five years old, was born after a botched delivery that severely impacted her brain development, experts say.
The family, Vacationing in Salt Lake City in October 2019, did not expect the trauma that would unfold. The mother, Anyssa Zancanella, went into labor and was admitted to a local hospital where a tragic chain of events began. Nurses caring for her had just completed their training hours before, leading to critical mistakes.
These inexperienced nurses failed to timely recognize that the baby was in distress. Excessive doses of the labor-inducing drug Pitocin were administered, worsening the situation. Despite concerning signals like the baby’s blood pressure and maternal fever, the on-call doctor reportedly ignored calls for help and went back to sleep nearby.
Azaylee was ultimately delivered by emergency cesarean section but suffered oxygen deprivation and brain damage. At birth, she had a misshapen head, swollen face, and bruising. Now, Azaylee lives with permanent neurological injuries, including developmental delays and seizures.
Her mother described how Azaylee requires 24/7 care, is nonverbal, and faces cognitive challenges severe enough that experts doubt she will ever live independently, attend school or work.
Third District Judge Patrick Corum expressed outrage in his ruling, saying the hospital was “the most dangerous place on the planet” for Azaylee to be born. He lamented the tragic loss saying Azaylee is “trapped inside a brain-damaged child,” unable to fulfill her potential.
Although ordered to pay $951 million, the hospital chain Steward Health Care, now bankrupt, complicates collecting the full amount. The family’s lawyers hope to recover at least part of the award.
This case highlights critical issues in hospital staffing, patient safety, and the severe consequences of medical negligence. For Azaylee’s family, the judgment is a bittersweet acknowledgment of a preventable tragedy that changed their lives forever.
