Press Releases and Announcements - 08 August 2011
Disabled child in multimillion dollar lawsuit over birth injury
Medical negligence law firm Maurice Blackburn has today issued
legal proceedings in the Brisbane Supreme Court on behalf of Dylan
Wallace, a six-year-old boy with cerebral palsy.
It is alleged that failures to act quickly enough during his birth
at Stanthorpe Hospital left Dylan with profound physical and
intellectual disabilities, including quadriplegia, severe
developmental delay and visual impairment.
Vicki Holmes, Maurice Blackburn senior associate said it is alleged
that hospital staff who managed Dylan's birth did not act on signs
of his distress.
"For at least an hour preceding his birth, Dylan was starved of
oxygen to his brain and as consequence of the events during his
birth, he has cerebral palsy. He cannot move independently or speak
and is fed through a tube into his stomach. He requires assistance
with all activities of daily living and will never be able to work,
even in a sheltered environment."
"The family would prefer to settle this matter out-of-court, but
there are significant differences of opinion about Dylan's life
expectancy and the damages payment that he is entitled to
receive.
"Dylan's family want to secure his financial future and ensure that
he can have a good quality of life. We argue that Dylan will live
well into adulthood with good quality care, but this is disputed by
the State of Queensland.
"We have taken into account the high level of care he will require
over decades, housing and transport modifications required, respite
care, medical care, equipment, therapy and loss of earnings.
"Dylan is the eldest child in a loving family. He reacts when his
two brothers and parents are nearby and he goes to a special school
where he has intensive therapy. The family need financial
assistance to give Dylan round-the-clock care and to meet the
long-term needs associated with his severe and multiple
disabilities," said Ms Holmes.
Media inquiries
Please note the Wallace family is not granting interviews. A
photo of Dylan and his mother is available on request.
Amanda Tattam at Maurice Blackburn
T 0413 997 467
E atattam@mauriceblackburn.com.au
Medical negligence law firm Maurice Blackburn has today issued
legal proceedings in the Brisbane Supreme Court on behalf of Dylan
Wallace, a six-year-old boy with cerebral palsy.
It is alleged that failures to act quickly enough during his
birth at Stanthorpe Hospital left Dylan with profound physical and
intellectual disabilities, including quadriplegia, severe
developmental delay and visual impairment.
Vicki Holmes, Maurice Blackburn senior associate said it is
alleged that hospital staff who managed Dylan's birth did not act
on signs of his distress.
"For at least an hour preceding his birth, Dylan was starved of
oxygen to his brain and as consequence of the events during his
birth, he has cerebral palsy. He cannot move independently or speak
and is fed through a tube into his stomach. He requires assistance
with all activities of daily living and will never be able to work,
even in a sheltered environment."
"The family would prefer to settle this matter out-of-court, but
there are significant differences of opinion about Dylan's life
expectancy and the damages payment that he is entitled to
receive.
"Dylan's family want to secure his financial future and ensure
that he can have a good quality of life. We argue that Dylan will
live well into adulthood with good quality care, but this is
disputed by the State of Queensland.
"We have taken into account the high level of care he will
require over decades, housing and transport modifications required,
respite care, medical care, equipment, therapy and loss of
earnings.
"Dylan is the eldest child in a loving family. He reacts when
his two brothers and parents are nearby and he goes to a special
school where he has intensive therapy. The family need financial
assistance to give Dylan round-the-clock care and to meet the
long-term needs associated with his severe and multiple
disabilities," said Ms Holmes.
Media inquiries
Please note the Wallace family is not granting interviews.
A photo of Dylan and his mother is available on request.
Amanda Tattam at Maurice Blackburn
T 0413 997 467
E atattam@mauriceblackburn.com.au