Mother sues Portland hospital after she accidentally smothered her baby

Ayla Ellison -

An Oregon woman who says she accidentally suffocated her 4-day-old baby after falling asleep with him in her hospital bed has sued the hospital where she gave birth and a nurse there, according to CNN.

The mother, Monica Thompson, filed the $8.6 million lawsuit Aug. 4. The suit alleges a nurse at Portland (Ore.) Adventist Medical Center took Ms. Thompson's baby, Jacob, from the hospital's nursery to Ms. Thompson's room for breastfeeding around 3 a.m. on Aug. 6, 2012. The nurse allegedly left mother and son unattended, even though Ms. Thompson was medicated on narcotic painkillers and sleep aids.  

About an hour after her son was left in her room, Ms. Thompson woke feeling "drowsy and groggy" with her unresponsive baby in her arms. She tried to get her son to respond while calling for a nurse for help. She then carried Jacob to the hallway and yelled for help.  

The baby was transferred to Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland and put on life support. Physicians determined the baby suffered from oxygen deficiency and his brain was permanently damaged. The parents terminated life support for their son six days later. Jacob was 10 days old.

In a statement to CNN, Portland Adventist Medical Center said, "This was a tragic event and our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the family. Adventist Medical Center is committed to providing quality, compassionate care to all of our patients. We are reviewing the claims being made and we are unable to provide any additional information at this time."

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