The parents of a newborn baby girl who tragically passed away just a day after her birth at Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s hospital have initiated a medical malpractice lawsuit. The suit names the hospital, several medical staff members, their insurance providers, and Sixteenth Street Clinic Milwaukee, where the child’s mother received prenatal care.
Justin Johnson and Karen Ramirez, the grieving parents, allege that their daughter, Amillianna Ramirez-Johnson, did not receive adequate medical attention from her birth on September 18, 2021, until her untimely death approximately 24 hours later. Attorney Odalo J. Ohiku is representing the family in this case, which has been filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
According to the lawsuit, Amillianna’s death was attributed to persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), a condition that, while serious, is considered treatable. PPHN affects a newborn’s ability to breathe and circulate blood effectively. The autopsy report indicated that Amillianna’s PPHN was caused by meconium aspiration – the inhalation of meconium, a substance that forms a baby’s first stool. Medical studies cited by the National Library of Medicine highlight that with proper treatment, approximately 90% of newborns with PPHN survive. This underscores the treatable nature of the condition and raises questions about the care Amillianna received.
“It is a significant relief to have the opportunity to seek justice for Amillianna’s death,” stated Johnson. “The feeling of being wronged and losing a child is devastating.”
This lawsuit follows a prior investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in February, which published a series of articles detailing the circumstances surrounding Amillianna’s death. The Journal Sentinel’s investigation included expert medical reviews of Amillianna’s medical records. These experts suggested that Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s may not have provided care that met the widely accepted standard for newborns with PPHN caused by meconium aspiration. Furthermore, concerns were raised about why Amillianna was not transferred to a more specialized hospital when her initial treatment appeared ineffective.
The investigation also brought to light the challenging legal landscape of medical malpractice cases in Wisconsin due to low caps on noneconomic damages, currently set at $750,000. This financial constraint can deter attorneys from taking on such complex and costly cases. Amillianna’s father revealed that he contacted nearly two dozen law firms before Odalo Ohiku, a former high-ranking official from the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, agreed to represent them.
Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s issued a statement in February in response to the Journal Sentinel’s investigation, asserting that an “internal review found the standard of care provided to this patient was met by the clinical team.” An Ascension Wisconsin spokesperson expressed condolences, stating, “The loss of any child is tragic, and our hearts and prayers go out to this family.” However, the hospital declined to comment on the pending litigation. Sixteenth Street Clinic Network, also named in the lawsuit, cited patient privacy laws in their decision not to comment.
Historically, Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital served as the primary hospital for deliveries for midwives associated with Sixteenth Street Clinic. Amillianna’s mother was among the patients who received prenatal care at Sixteenth Street Clinic and planned to deliver at Columbia St. Mary’s. However, in October, Sixteenth Street Clinic’s midwives and other medical professionals transitioned their hospital affiliation from Columbia St. Mary’s to Aurora Sinai Medical Center in downtown Milwaukee for births.
Dr. Julie Schuller, president and CEO of Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, stated that the move to Aurora Sinai had been planned over several years, emphasizing that Sixteenth Street “continues to remain good partners with Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital.”
Amillianna’s parents believe their daughter’s case tragically illustrates a broader issue of preventable infant deaths, particularly among Hispanic, Black, and Native American communities, to which Amillianna belonged. “I blame them for her death,” Amillianna’s mother stated, expressing her grief and belief that more could have been done to save her daughter. “They could have done better, they could have done more for her. Everybody else’s babies got to go home except for mine.”
Jessica Van Egeren, a general assignment reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, contributed to this report.
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