Family of Brain Damaged Girl Secures Compensation Settlement

The parents of a girl who suffered severe brain damage at birth have been awarded a multi-million pound compensation settlement which will help her lead as independent a life as possible.

Ruby Curtis, who is now eight years old, was born at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds after her mother, Lisa, was given drugs to induce her labour.

However, staff did not notice that Lisa’s uterus had ruptured and so failed to act swiftly to deliver the baby. The result was that Ruby was starved of oxygen and suffered irreparable brain damage. She now has athetoid cerebral palsy, which affects all four limbs, her head and her body.

As a result of her injury, Ruby needs help with basic, everyday tasks, such as feeding and personal care, as well as with her education. She is able to make sounds but does not have clear speech. She is, however, able to use her eyes to operate a computer and a communication device.

The hospital admitted responsibility and the exact details of the compensation payable were recently agreed in the High Court. The settlement is made up of a lump sum of £2.95 million and index-linked annual payments to help provide therapy, support, special schooling and other care costs.