A Tampa jury awarded a mother and father $12,000,000.00 as a result of the death of their baby at Tampa General Hospital.

The parents were apparently told that a surgeon was available at Tampa General Hospital who could help care for their very premature baby. The baby was transported from Polk County to Tampa General and only after several days at the hospital was the family informed that Tampa General had no such surgeon available.

How can this sort of thing happen? Were the parents told no surgeon was available? If so, why was the baby transported there instead of some other facility that may have been able to save the baby’s life? The hospital is appealing the judgment, so the story is not over.