Jury awards couple almost $30 million; Verdict is one of the largest ever in Idaho

BOISE -- A federal jury has awarded a former Idaho couple one of the largest medical malpractice verdicts in state history.

A chief defendant in the case, Ketchum area obstetrician Ross Donald, said the nearly $30 million award could result in Idaho patients spending more time with specialists, rather than with general practitioners.

Former Carey residents Sandy and Quinn Kirkland said their son, Bryce, suffered serious brain damage because Sandy Kirkland received poor treatment when she was pregnant in 1995.

On Monday, a jury before U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge decided that Donald and the Sun Valley-based Wood River Medical Center, where Sandy Kirkland was treated, are liable for $29,715,077. That includes more than $11 million for medical bills for Bryce that the Kirklands are expected to pay during his lifetime.

Donald said his attorneys may decide to appeal the verdict. He also is considering legal action against his medical malpractice insurers, who declined to settle the case as he requested, he said.

The jury decided Donald will be responsible for 75 percent of the total award, while the medical center will cover the difference.

Jurors in the four-week trial also cleared another doctor involved in the case, Randall Coriell.

The Kirklands, now living in Hamilton, Mont., said the money would help them care for their son, who now is almost 4.

"No amount of money can console you, but this really helps because we can get what we need for Bryce," said Sandy Kirkland, 23, a homemaker.

The Kirklands said Bryce received poor care following an amniocentesis that Donald performed to determine whether the boy could survive a premature birth. Failing to notice Bryce was bleeding after the procedure led to permanent injuries, they alleged.

Wood River Medical Center officials said in a written statement that they have improved their obstetrics program since the Kirkland incident. They declined to discuss specifics of the lawsuit.

Donald, who plans to continue his Ketchum-based practice, said he did nothing wrong other than not playing a more active role in Sandy Kirkland's case.

"We feel bad for what happened to the Kirkland family," he said. "She fell through the safety net. I should have never referred her back to the family physician."

Donald said the verdict will prompt medical specialists in Idaho to take charge of cases after a general practitioner requests help.

"It will impact a lot of people throughout the state," he said.

But Paul Luvera, the Kirklands' Seattle-based attorney, said the case simply uncovers an example of poor medical care. He said it also shows a group of medical professionals who tried to blame each other for injuring the boy.