Providence Saint John's Health Center Birth Injury Lawyers

Providence Saint John's Health Center, at 2121 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, is a private nonprofit hospital that is part of Providence Health & Services. Many Westside families bring their babies into the world there. Most births go well. This page is for the families whose delivery did not go as hoped, and who are now living with questions about their child's health, development or future.

If your baby had a hard delivery, spent time in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), or later received a diagnosis such as cerebral palsy, a brachial plexus injury or a brain injury, you may be wondering whether it could have been prevented and what help is available. You may also be a mother who was hurt during delivery. Asking those questions is reasonable, and it does not mean anyone did anything wrong. Many birth injuries happen even when everyone does their best.

Below you will find general medical information from trusted sources, the warning signs parents describe, how an independent review of a delivery works, and practical steps you can take now, including how to request the hospital records and how to ask for early intervention services for your child. This page is educational. It is not legal or medical advice, and it says nothing about the quality of care at any hospital. Beverly Law's team is available to talk with you about your options at no cost.

Labor and delivery at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica

According to the hospital's own maternity page, Providence Saint John's offers obstetric care through its McAlister Women's Health Center, with labor and delivery on the third floor of the hospital at 2121 Santa Monica Blvd. The page describes birthing suites, couplet care (the baby can stay with the mother), a high-risk pregnancy program with a perinatologist, advanced ultrasound, VBAC support, and personalized birth plans. The maternity department's phone number is listed as (310) 829-8787.

For babies who need extra help, the hospital's NICU page describes an 18-bed Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit staffed around the clock by a team that includes neonatologists, specialized NICU nurses, respiratory therapists and social workers. According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), the hospital cared for 1,855 newborns in its newborn nursery that year, and its NICU had 114 discharges. The state report lists 18 licensed intensive-care newborn beds, which matches the hospital's own description.

The hospital is a private nonprofit corporation, and the state report lists Providence Health & Services as its parent organization. It serves Santa Monica and the surrounding Westside communities of Los Angeles County. Knowing these basics matters later, because the type of hospital can affect which rules apply to a claim and how quickly a family needs to act.

Birth injuries families ask about after a difficult delivery

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is brain injury caused by too little oxygen and blood flow around the time of birth. The Cleveland Clinic describes signs such as abnormal muscle tone, feeding difficulty, a weak cry, seizures and trouble breathing, and explains that the main treatment is therapeutic hypothermia, in which the baby's body is carefully cooled and then rewarmed to help protect the brain. Cooling works best when it is started within the first hours of life, which is why NICU teams act quickly when HIE is suspected.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of movement and posture disorders. The CDC explains that most CP is congenital, meaning the brain was damaged or developed differently before or during birth, that the cause is often unknown, and that lack of oxygen during birth explains only a small share of cases. CP does not worsen over time, but many children need lifelong therapy. Because the diagnosis often comes months or years after birth, many families do not learn the full picture until their child misses milestones.

Brachial plexus birth injury, often called Erb's palsy, is damage to the nerves that move the arm. The Hospital for Special Surgery explains that it most often occurs when the baby's shoulder is stuck during delivery (shoulder dystocia), that it affects roughly 1 to 3 in every 1,000 births, and that about two-thirds of children recover without surgery. Other conditions families ask about include newborn brain bleeds, skull or collarbone fractures, infections such as group B strep (GBS) that are not caught or treated in time, and maternal injuries such as heavy postpartum bleeding (hemorrhage) or tears. These are general medical facts. They are not statements about any particular hospital or delivery.

Warning signs of a birth injury in the first days, weeks and months

In the first days, parents and nurses may notice a baby who is unusually floppy or stiff, has a weak or high-pitched cry, struggles to feed or breathe, has seizures or unusual movements, is very sleepy and hard to wake, or needs to be moved to the NICU. One arm that does not move, or a collarbone that seems to hurt when touched, can point to a nerve or bone injury. A mother may notice heavy bleeding, fever or severe pain that does not improve.

In the first weeks and months, the CDC notes that a baby whose head lags when lifted, whose body feels very stiff or very floppy, or whose legs stiffen and cross when picked up should be checked. After about six months, not rolling over, not bringing hands together, or using only one hand can be early signs of a movement disorder. Feeding problems, poor weight gain, and eyes or hearing that do not respond as expected are also worth mentioning to the pediatrician.

Many children without any disorder show some of these signs, so a sign is not a diagnosis. Still, the CDC advises that parents who are worried about development can contact their state's early intervention program without waiting for a diagnosis. Write down what you see, with dates, and keep every discharge paper, therapy report and appointment summary. Those notes often become valuable later.

Who may be responsible in a birth injury claim

Many people take part in a delivery, and a claim looks at the actions of each. Depending on the facts, those who may be involved include labor and delivery nurses and other hospital staff, the obstetrician, a midwife, an anesthesiologist, a neonatologist or pediatrician, and the medical group or hospital that employs them. Whether anyone is responsible is a question an expert answers after reviewing the records. It is never assumed.

A common point of confusion is that the doctor who delivered your baby may not be an employee of the hospital. Many physicians are independent or belong to a separate medical group and only use the hospital to care for their patients. Nurses, technicians and other staff are more often hospital employees. This difference affects who is named in a claim and which insurance applies, so it helps to know how your obstetrician and your baby's doctors were affiliated.

Insurance and the type of hospital also matter. A private nonprofit hospital is handled differently from a county or University of California hospital, and a Kaiser Permanente member's claim follows a different process from most. If you are unsure which category applies to your delivery, a free consultation can sort that out quickly.

How an independent expert review of the delivery works

A review starts with the records. The reviewing team gathers the prenatal chart, the labor and delivery notes, the fetal heart monitoring strips, the medication and anesthesia records, the baby's Apgar scores, umbilical cord blood gas results, and the NICU and pediatric notes, along with any brain imaging such as an MRI. Together they create a minute-by-minute picture of what happened and when.

Independent physicians then review that picture. Fetal heart rate tracings show how the baby tolerated labor over time, cord gases show how much acid had built up at birth, and imaging helps date and describe a brain injury. In California, a medical malpractice claim generally needs support from a qualified expert before it moves forward, so this review is the heart of the process. Experts may conclude that the care met accepted standards, in which case the family has an answer and can focus on support. Or they may identify concerns worth pursuing.

Your role in a review is simple: sign a records request, share your timeline, and tell us what you remember. You do not need to figure out the medicine yourself. The review costs you nothing, and starting it does not commit you to any lawsuit.

What to do now: steps for families after a difficult delivery

First, make sure your child is getting the medical and developmental care they need. That always comes first. Ask the pediatrician about specialists and therapy, and keep copies of all reports. Second, write down your own account of the labor and delivery while you remember it, including who you spoke to, what you were told and when. Do not post details on social media.

Third, request the records. A parent or guardian can ask for the mother's chart and the baby's chart, including the fetal monitoring strips, which are often kept separately and should be requested by name. Fourth, do not wait. California has strict deadlines, and families whose baby was born at a public hospital can have as little as six months to act. A prompt conversation costs nothing and keeps all your options open. Beverly Law handles birth injury cases on a contingency basis, so there is no fee unless there is a recovery.

Finally, be patient with yourself. You are caring for a child, possibly recovering from your own delivery, and trying to understand a lot at once. You do not have to decide anything today. A short call is enough to learn where you stand.

Support while your case is reviewed: early intervention, therapy, Medi-Cal and CCS

Help for your child does not have to wait for a legal answer. In California, Early Start provides evaluations and services for babies and toddlers under age three who have a developmental delay or a condition likely to cause one. Services can include physical, occupational and speech therapy, and they are arranged through your regional center, which is a nonprofit agency funded by the state.

Depending on your child's condition and your income, other programs may help with costs: Medi-Cal for health coverage, and California Children's Services (CCS), which can authorize care for certain serious medical conditions through your county. Your pediatrician, the hospital's social workers and the regional center can explain which programs your child may qualify for.

These programs exist to support your child now. They are separate from any legal claim, and using them does not affect your rights. Keep a log of every therapy, device and bill, because lifetime care costs are an important part of how experts and attorneys later evaluate a case.

Deadlines for a birth-injury case in California

California gives a child’s birth-injury case its own deadline. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5, a minor must sue within three years of the wrongful act, but a child who was under six when it happened has until his or her eighth birthday if that is longer. For a baby hurt during labor or delivery, that usually means the eighth birthday. The clock runs from the act itself, not from the day the family learned what went wrong, and it is paused only in narrow cases of fraud or collusion. Parents’ own claims, and claims against a public hospital, can have much shorter deadlines, so it is safer to get advice early.

Before a medical malpractice lawsuit can be filed in California, the doctor or hospital must get written warning. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 364, the health care provider must receive at least 90 days’ notice of the intention to sue. No special form is required, but the notice must state the legal basis of the claim, the type of loss and the specific injuries suffered. Under § 364(d), if the notice is served within the last 90 days of the filing deadline, the deadline is extended 90 days from the date of service. The notice is a required step, and it is often the moment a case moves from questions to formal action.

What MICRA caps — and what it does not

California’s MICRA law limits one part of a medical malpractice recovery. Under Civil Code § 3333.2, as amended by AB 35, non-economic damages (pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life) are capped. In 2026 the cap is $470,000 for injury and $650,000 for wrongful death, and it rises every January 1 ($40,000 and $50,000 a year until 2033, then 2% a year). Separate caps can apply to doctors, hospitals and unaffiliated providers. Economic damages are not capped: lifetime medical care, therapy, equipment, home modifications and lost earning capacity can be recovered in full, and in a birth-injury case they are usually the largest part of the claim.

How to get the delivery records from Providence Saint John's Health Center

California law gives families a right to these records. Under Health and Safety Code § 123110, a patient or the patient’s personal representative — for a baby, a parent or guardian (§ 123105) — may inspect the records within five working days of a written request and is entitled to a paper or electronic copy, which the provider must send within 15 days after receiving a request that says which records are wanted. For a birth-injury review, ask for both charts: the mother’s labor and delivery record, including the fetal heart rate monitoring strips, and the baby’s newborn and NICU record.

Providence Saint John's Health Center lists a records page for patients and parents. According to that page, hospital records are handled through its Release of Information service (phone 714-882-5873), you can use the Patient Request for Access form, which is available in English and Spanish, or send a signed letter that identifies the patient (name and date of birth), who should receive the records and which records you want. Records kept electronically can be requested at no charge through MyChart. Ask specifically for the mother's labor and delivery chart, the baby's newborn and NICU chart, and the fetal heart monitoring strips. Radiology and clinic records are requested separately, as the page explains. Confirm current instructions on the hospital's page before sending your request.

The hospital’s medical records page →

Where a case from Santa Monica would be filed

A birth injury case from Santa Monica would usually be filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, in its civil unlimited division. The court's Central District civil cases are handled at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Where a specific case is filed can depend on the defendants and the facts, so your attorney will confirm the right courthouse with the court's own information before filing.

Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles → — 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Help for your child now: Early Start in Los Angeles County

Early Start is California's program for babies and toddlers under age three with developmental delays or conditions likely to cause them. It is arranged through the regional centers of the Department of Developmental Services. Westside Regional Center serves parts of the Westside of Los Angeles County, including the Santa Monica-West area, according to the state's regional center listing, so confirm which center serves your home address on dds.ca.gov. A parent, doctor or hospital can ask for an evaluation, and you do not need a formal diagnosis or a legal case to ask. Call the center's Early Start intake line, listed by the state as 310-258-4096, or use westsiderc.org. The evaluation is free.

Westside Regional Center →

Key facts

Questions parents ask

Other Los Angeles County hospitals we cover

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · Miller Children’s & Women’s Long Beach · Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center · Kaiser Permanente Downey · Antelope Valley Medical Center · Adventist Health White Memorial · Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park · Queen of the Valley Hospital, West Covina · CHA Hollywood Presbyterian · Huntington Hospital, Pasadena · Los Angeles birth injury lawyers →

Related pages

Cerebral Palsy · Erb’s Palsy / Brachial Plexus Injury · HIE / Oxygen Deprivation at Birth · Statute of Limitations · MICRA Damages Cap · All California hospitals · California birth injury lawyers · Birth injury guides

Beverly Law is an independent law firm. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or speaking for Providence Saint John's Health Center or Providence Health & Services (Providence). Hospital facts on this page come from the public sources listed above.

Important: This page is general information about birth injuries and California law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Beverly Law. Every case is different — talk to a lawyer about your own situation. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. No fees or costs unless we win. Last reviewed: 2026-09-18.