On July 8, 2024, Snyder & Wenner filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Willow Midwife Center for Birth and Wellness AZ, LLC (doing business as Willow Midwife Centers for Birth & Wellness AZ) for the death of a newborn child. The plaintiffs hired Willow and midwife Wendy Shaw to provide midwifery services. The lawsuit alleges that during labor and delivery, Wendy Shaw and Willow Midwife Centers failed to timely transfer the patient to the hospital when her labor did not progress as it should have. The lawsuit further alleges that Wendy Shaw and Willow Midwife Centers failed to properly monitor mom and baby, and missed significant signs of potential oxygen deprivation. These acts of negligence resulted in the baby being born essentially lifeless. He was transferred to Banner Desert Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). HIE is caused by a lack of blood flow and oxygen to the baby’s brain during labor and delivery. After fighting for his life for 4 days, the baby ultimately passed away due to his significant brain injury. The lawsuit alleges that Willow Midwife Centers and Wendy Shaw are responsible for the wrongful death. At this time, Willow denies any wrongdoing.
It is also important to note that when the baby was delivered essentially lifeless, the police conducted an investigation. The police report notes that there have been numerous other similar deliveries at Willow Midwife Centers. Those other allegations are currently being investigated, and no further information about the allegations or the veracity of those allegations is known at this time.
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is most often a preventable outcome. If the midwife properly assesses and treats mom and baby, the signs and symptoms can be identified, and proper interventions can be applied. When those signs and symptoms are ignored, however, the consequences are disastrous. Snyder & Wenner has been Arizona’s Birth Injury Law Firm for over 40 years. The firm has litigated birth injury cases against numerous hospital systems and birthing centers. In November 2023, attorney Brian Snyder obtained a $31,550,825 verdict against Banner Health for an HIE birth injury. To find out if you have a birth injury case, contact Snyder & Wenner today at 602-224-0005 or submit your inquiry via the form at www.snyderwenner.com.
