The parents of a newborn are suing Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, alleging that medical staff caused their child’s death by breaking her neck and then trying to cover it up. The lawsuit, filed on October 17, refers to an incident from June 2022.
The mother, Gianna Lopera, gave birth to her daughter, Jahxy Peets, at 24 weeks via emergency C-section. The premature baby was placed on life support in the NICU. Initial hospital documents reported no traumatic birth injuries, but two weeks later, concerns about the baby’s upper body tone led to further investigation. An MRI revealed spinal cord damage, including abnormalities and suspected hemorrhaging, with the lawsuit stating, “Jahxy Peets’ neck had been broken.”
The lawsuit claims that such an injury could only occur through excessive force, yet it was not documented in her medical records. It further alleges that the hospital failed to investigate the injury and did not hold anyone accountable for it, suggesting an attempt to cover up what had happened. Due to the neck injury, Jahxy was left paralyzed and unable to breathe on her own, ultimately passing away in November 2022 after spending 165 days in the hospital.
The parents accuse the hospital of malpractice and claim that the injury led to their daughter’s prolonged death. Their lawyer, Nicole Kruegel, stated, “She couldn’t breathe independently, her organs began failing… it was just a prolonged death.” The lawsuit suggests that the individual responsible may have acted either intentionally or incompetently and could still be employed in the NICU.
The lawsuit also highlights the emotional pain and suffering endured by Jahxy’s parents, along with the financial burden of medical and funeral expenses. They claim they were not promptly informed that the injury was trauma-induced or preventable. Jahxy’s father, Jahmair Peets, noted a bruise on her spine and said the hospital also mentioned her neck was swollen. The parents allege that the hospital staff failed to protect their daughter, resulting in her wrongful death.