Parents of Newborn Sue Florida Hospital, Alleging Negligence Led to Baby’s Death

Orlando, FL — The parents of a newborn who tragically died months after her birth are suing Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, claiming that a hospital worker’s actions resulted in their daughter’s death. The lawsuit, filed by Gianna Lopera and Jamiah Peets, alleges that their daughter, Jahxy Peets, suffered a broken neck due to excessive force used during handling shortly after her premature birth.

Jahxy was born at just 24 weeks gestation in June 2022 and was immediately admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, where she was intubated. According to the family’s legal complaint, approximately two weeks later, medical staff discovered that Jahxy had sustained a broken neck, resulting in a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed and unable to breathe without assistance. The infant ultimately succumbed to her injuries in November 2022.

The lawsuit claims that the injury occurred while Jahxy was being handled by a hospital employee, who subsequently placed her back in the incubator without notifying anyone of the incident. “This type of spinal cord injury could not occur without the use of excessive force when handling a newborn,” the lawsuit states. It further alleges that there is no documentation in the medical records regarding the event that caused the injury, nor any indication that an investigation was conducted to identify the individual responsible.

Jahxy’s parents expressed their deep anguish over their loss, with Lopera stating during a press conference on Monday that they “deserve answers” about what happened to their daughter. “Every parent whose baby is born at Winnie Palmer deserves to know what happened to Jahxy,” Lopera said, her voice breaking with emotion. She described the profound impact of their loss, sharing, “I never got a chance to hear my daughter cry. She never got a chance to meet her siblings or her family. We never celebrated a single milestone. We only held her four times in her entire life.”

In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital expressed condolences but refrained from addressing the specifics of the case. “We offer our deepest sympathies to this family, and to any family who suffers the loss of a child,” the spokesperson stated. They emphasized that caring for extremely premature infants is a complex and emotional endeavor, adding, “We believe those who provide care in this environment should be judged on facts, not speculation.”

The Peets family is seeking a jury trial in their lawsuit, aiming to hold the hospital accountable for what they describe as devastating negligence that led to their daughter’s untimely death.