Lawsuit claims medical center allowed negligence in baby deaths

An Atlanta attorney has filed five malpractice lawsuits against South Fulton Medical Center, alleging negligence that led to the death of four babies and the injury of a fifth.

The mothers told their stories at a press conference in their attorney's office on Friday.

Quachasity Houston, 17, couldn't get through her story of what she says happened when she went to South Fulton Medical Center to have her baby delivered. She got to hold her baby but for only a few precious days.

"She lived two or three days later, and the fourth day she passed. And we just want answers," said Laconia Ross, Houston's mother.

The five mothers say the hospital didn't provide proper medical care and their babies were injured or died as a result.

"I was told that my child was deceased for three days, and my child was only deceased for 24 hours," said Angel Milan, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

The women are all minorities and of humble means. Attorney Jim Potts II says he is exploring whether this impacted the level of care given them at the hospital.

"I think you're entitled to equal medical care. It doesn't matter what's your socio-economic background or race is. It ought not matter," said Potts.

Two-year-old Harmoni Reid survived her childbirth at South Fulton Medical Center, but her mother says it was traumatic.

"The baby got stuck coming out. Her head was stuck down there for so long so she was purple and blue," Tangela Phillips.

Her mother and father say she was injured during the delivery, and now has nerve palsy in her right arm.

These mothers say they didn't experience the beauty of childbirth at the center, and many of them won't experience being a mother.

"I never even got a chance to hear a cry. I never got to see my child's eyes or anything because my child was deceased," said Shanquavisa Davis.

In a written statement about the lawsuits, South Fulton Medical Center said:

"Our top priority is to provide safe, quality healthcare to our patients. While it is not appropriate to comment on specific patient care, we deny allegations of negligence in the complaints and will vigorously defend ourselves through the legal process."