Government Pays $11M Settlement in Newborn Brain-Damage Case

The U.S. government is paying $11 million to the family of a newborn who was left brain damaged for life due to mistakes made during her delivery at Tripler Army Medical Center.

Attorneys announced the settlement Tuesday for 4-year-old Kayla Mae McCraw, who was permanently injured by a series of miscommunications and accidents when she was born in 2005.

Family attorney Mark Davis says Kayla's delivery was delayed, and her umbilical cord was wrapped tightly around her neck.

He said a first-year intern then inserted an oxygen tube that delivered air to the child's stomach instead of her lungs.

Tripler hospital officials didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment on the settlement.