A Midland couple has filed a lawsuit against Odessa Regional Medical Center claiming their baby was severely burned in the neonatal unit of the hospital in November 2021.
According to the lawsuit filed Thursday in Ector County District Court, Laura Salgado’s baby girl was born 15 weeks early in July 2021 at 440 grams. She remained in ORMC’S neonatal ICU unit for months.
Salgado and the baby’s father, Robby Hanks, claim that in November 2021 registered nurse Leticia Najera hung or allowed to be hung a plastic toy above the baby’s crib, the warming lights melted it and the plastic dripped onto the baby’s cheek and jaw, permanently scarring it, the lawsuit alleges.
The baby will likely have to undergo plastic surgery as a result of the injuries, which no one has taken responsibility for, the lawsuit stated. In addition, the lawsuit claims the injuries were not documented in the baby’s chart.
Najera and ORMC were both named in the lawsuit and the couple’s attorney, Bruce Beach of Austin, is seeking damages of $100,000 to $500,000 on behalf of the couple claiming negligence.
Stacey Brown, president of ORMC, has previously said the hospital has a policy of not commenting on pending litigation.
