Orange County Toddler Malpractice Trial to Begin

Chrissie Cole

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The medical malpractice suit filed by the family of an Orange County girl revived after doctors allegedly declared her dead in 200 is slated to begin on Monday.

The girl was 20 months old when she fell into a swimming pool at her family’s home on November 7, 2003. The suit claims the girl, now 6, suffered permanent brain damage after doctors at Anaheim Memorial Medical Center wrongly pronounced her dead.

Over an hour after disconnecting her from her breathing tube, a police detective doing a routine investigation discovered her chest was moving and he summoned doctors who were able to revive her. She was later transferred to Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

The lawsuit, filed in Orange County Superior Court names Anaheim Memorial and Dr. Richard Oxman. Calls to both the doctor and hospital officials were not returned.

The lawsuit is seeking punitive damages. The girl's mother said she hopes a judge and jury will award enough money to help take care of her daughter.

"If she needs a piece of equipment, she shouldn't have to worry about how to get it or how she is going to get it," she said. "These things are not covered by insurance. We're not able to have it."