The family of Azaylee, now five, was awarded $951 million after a botched birth at a Utah hospital caused severe brain damage. The infant suffers lifelong developmental disabilities because of the hospital’s failure to act on critical warning signs during labor.
Anyssa Zancanella, Azaylee’s mother, went into labor unexpectedly while vacationing in Salt Lake City in 2019. At the local hospital, poorly trained nurses failed to recognize the baby’s distress and administered excessive doses of Pitocin.
A doctor on call ignored the emergency, choosing to rest nearby instead of intervening. Emergency cesarean delivery came too late to prevent oxygen deprivation.
Azaylee was born with a misshapen head, swelling, and bruising and now requires round-the-clock care for neurological injuries. Experts doubt she will lead a normal life.
Judge Corum called the hospital “the most dangerous place on earth” to give birth and lamented the profound loss.
The hospital, now bankrupt, faces challenges in paying damages. The family hopes for partial recovery.
This tragic case highlights failures in healthcare and the lifelong impact on a child and family.
