Pennsylvania Injury Law Report

On March 22, 2012, in Florissant, MO, Dr. Gilbert Webb decapitated the child of Arteisha Betts and Travis Ammonette during the infant's delivery.

A month before, Betts and Ammonette had been told by Dr. Susan Moore that their child should be born by way of a C-section due to his abdomen being too large for an ordinary birth. However, when Betts went into labor, the doctor on hand (Webb) patently refused the C-section, pressuring the couple to submit to a vaginal delivery despite previous warnings.

During the delivery, the doctor was unable to free the child from the birth canal, and, in the process, pulled the boy's head from his body. Realizing what he had done, Dr. Webb reportedly shoved the boy back inside the birth canal to hide his horrible error.

In September, Betts and Ammonette filed a lawsuit for negligence and wrongful death. As defendants, the suit names Dr. Gilbert Webb and Dr. Susan Moore, as well as Signature Medical Group and Midwest Maternal & Fetal Medicine Services.

This horrific tragedy is an example of the fact that medical malpractice can occur in the this country and in Pennsylvania at any moment. No amount of money will bring back Ms. Betts and Mr. Ammonette’s baby. Nevertheless, this story underscores the need for injured victims and their families to have at least the ability to seek justice and compensation for their losses.

As I write this post, it is election day. Picking candidates to elect is, of course, a personal decision for every voter. However, when casting your vote, please consider those candidates who are most likely to put measures in place that might curtail your legal rights, as opposed to those candidates who support the jury system in America.