Imagine trusting a newborn infant in the hands of paramedics, only to have the child suffer third degree burns during transport. This is the chilling tale of one Idaho family, who has opened a lawsuit against the city of Rexburg over the incident. The Porter family was home one evening, when something unexpected happened. Jenise Porter delivered the unexpected birth of her child, Londyn Porter. Paramedics were called in to rush Londyn to the hospital. What the Porter family expected was a safe trip for their newborn daughter. What happened caused them to take legal action against the city.
The Porter Family’s Case
The paramedics had to transport newborn Londyn and her mother separately. The paramedic that was taking care of Londyn, Troyce Miskin, wrapped her in a foil blanket to ensure that the infant would be kept warm. Miskin also applied heating packs to the outside of the blanket in order to attempt to retain heat for the infant. Instead, these heating packs caused severe burns to Londyn’s infantile body. Londyn suffered second degree burns that burned her skin and the fat below the skin. Jenise Porter was not informed of the injuries to her child until much later in the day. Court records currently show no reason provided as to why she was not informed.
The city has argued heavily against the case, resisting chances to settle. Now the case is headed to court for a full trial later this month. The city believes the Miskin acted within proper standard of care as a paramedic. Miskin has gone on to state that he was trying to provide as much care as possible to Londyn prior the arrival at the hospital. However, Miskin has also stated that Londyn almost immediately showed a painful reaction to the application of the heating packs. The court record shows that Miskin claimed that this was standard protocol, but could not cite any specific instructor or manual that provided this information.
Expert witnesses for the case, including a doctor who treated Londyn at the hospital, have come forward to state that there was no reason to apply the heating packs. The doctor that provided care for Londyn in the neonatal unit compared the act of applying the hearing pad to protecting one’s hands with tin foil when taking a hot tray out of an oven. In addition, the doctor described the Londyn’s painful medical treatments necessary to care for her wounds. Due to her infancy, and a risk for respiratory complications, Londyn could not undergo any anesthesia, and was forced to endure the painful scrubbing and treatment of her wounds with some infant painkillers as her sole recourse.
The Porter family is seeking unspecified damages on behalf of Londyn. With the trial fast approaching, hopefully the family will receive fair compensation for this incident.
If you or a loved one has been injured in the state of New Hampshire, contact the experienced and award winning personal injury lawyers at Tenn And Tenn today.