A Utah family has been awarded nearly $1 billion in damages after a hospital delivery went tragically wrong. Anyssa Zancanella, who had a healthy pregnancy, said her daughter Azaylee was left severely disabled due to medical negligence.
The court found staff at Jordan Valley Medical Center gave her “excessive” doses of Pitocin and delayed an emergency C-section for more than a day. Judge Patrick Corum said, “She would have been safer born in a gas station bathroom.”
Now 5, Azaylee suffers seizures, cannot speak, and requires constant care. Her mother heartbreakingly shared, “I know my daughter is in there, but she can’t come out. Her life was stolen.” The family even sleeps in one bed because Azaylee cannot sleep alone.
The $951 million award includes punitive damages, though the bankrupt hospital system may never fully pay. Still, the ruling sends a powerful message about accountability in medical malpractice.
Do you believe such verdicts can finally push hospitals to put patient safety first?
