PIH Health Whittier Hospital Birth Injury Lawyers

If your baby was born at PIH Health Whittier Hospital, at 12401 Washington Blvd. in Whittier, Los Angeles County, and the delivery was frightening, or your child is now having trouble with movement, feeding, seizures or development, you probably have questions. This page is written for the parents, grandparents and caregivers of babies delivered at this hospital who want to understand what a birth injury is, what the warning signs look like, and what choices a family has.

PIH Health Whittier Hospital is a private nonprofit hospital that is part of PIH Health. According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), its newborn nursery cared for 1,732 babies that year, and it has 34 licensed intensive-care newborn (NICU) beds. Most births there go well, and nothing on this page says otherwise. We explain birth injuries in general terms so that a family that does have concerns knows where to start.

Nothing here is a judgment about the hospital, its nurses or its doctors, and we do not know what happened in any one family's delivery. A complication can happen even when everyone does everything right, and sometimes a medical record review is the only way to tell the difference. This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not make you a client of Beverly Law.

Labor and delivery at PIH Health Whittier Hospital in Whittier, CA

PIH Health Whittier Hospital offers labor and delivery. The hospital's own labor and delivery and OB tour pages describe a maternity service where expectant parents can take childbirth, infant care and breastfeeding classes, pre-register by completing admission paperwork ahead of time, and tour the unit. The hospital's pages also describe private birthing suites, and say that obstetricians are on duty around the clock, that anesthesiologists are available 24 hours a day, and that a neonatologist (a doctor who specializes in newborns) is on duty at all times. The hospital lists two visitors in the delivery room, counting the support person, and typical stays of 24 to 48 hours after a vaginal birth and 48 to 72 hours after a cesarean.

The hospital also has a neonatal intensive care unit. According to the hospital's own newsroom, the NICU is a Level III unit that has cared for fragile newborns since 1974. In its 2024 report to the state (HCAI), the hospital reported 34 licensed NICU beds and 324 NICU discharges, along with 1,732 newborns cared for in its newborn nursery. A Level III NICU is designed for babies who are born early or who are seriously ill, which is why some families spend days or weeks there after delivery.

The hospital is in Whittier, in southeastern Los Angeles County, and families from Whittier and the surrounding communities deliver there. It is a private nonprofit hospital, not a county or University of California hospital. That matters for a family thinking about a claim, because different rules apply to public hospitals, as we explain below.

Birth injuries families ask about after a difficult delivery

A birth injury is harm to a baby that happens before, during or shortly after delivery. Some are minor and heal on their own. Cleveland Clinic reports roughly 29 birth injuries for every 1,000 live births, and most of them are scalp swelling or bruising that clears up with monitoring. Others are serious and can change a child's life. The ones families most often ask about are described below in general terms, based on medical sources. They are not statements about this hospital.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, is a brain injury caused by too little blood flow and oxygen to the baby's brain around the time of birth. Cleveland Clinic says it affects about 1 to 6 of every 1,000 births and is graded mild, moderate or severe. Treatment can include therapeutic cooling, in which the baby's body temperature is lowered and then gradually restored to help protect the brain. Outcomes range from full recovery to lifelong needs. Cerebral palsy is a group of movement and posture conditions caused by damage to the developing brain, and the CDC explains that it is usually recognized when a child is late reaching movement milestones.

Other injuries include Erb's palsy, which is arm weakness or paralysis from damage to the brachial plexus nerves in the shoulder, and brain bleeds, which can need monitoring or sometimes surgery. A baby can also have a broken collarbone or a skull fracture. Many collarbone fractures heal on their own, while others need treatment. Newborn infections such as group B strep (GBS) can be serious if they are not caught quickly. Mothers can be hurt too, for example by heavy bleeding after delivery (hemorrhage) or by tears and infections. Some injuries are known risks of a difficult birth and are not the result of an error. Telling the difference takes a careful review of the records.

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

In the first days, signs that a newborn needs urgent medical attention include a weak cry, trouble feeding, unusual floppiness or stiffness, bluish or gray skin, very little response to touch or sound, abnormal breathing, and seizures. Cleveland Clinic lists these among the symptoms of HIE and says that any of them requires emergency care. Other early signs are a limb that the baby does not move, swelling or bruising on the head, and crying that seems to be from pain when the baby is handled. If you see any of this, call your baby's doctor or go to the emergency room first, before anything else.

Some problems do not show up right away. The CDC explains that the main sign of cerebral palsy is a delay in movement milestones such as rolling over, sitting, standing or walking. In babies under six months, the CDC lists head lag when the baby is lifted, a body that feels very stiff or very floppy, and legs that stiffen and cross when the baby is picked up. After six months, the signs include not rolling in either direction, trouble bringing the hands together or to the mouth, and reaching with only one hand. After about ten months, a baby who crawls in a lopsided way, pushing with one side and dragging the other, should be seen by a doctor.

Cleveland Clinic also notes that some effects, such as learning difficulties or attention problems, may not be noticed until a child starts school. Many children with these signs do not have cerebral palsy, and a delay is not proof that something went wrong at birth. But if you have a feeling that something is not right, you do not have to wait. Ask your pediatrician for a developmental screening and, for a child under three, for an Early Start evaluation. Write down dates, symptoms and what each doctor told you while you still remember them clearly.

Who may be responsible in a birth-injury claim?

Many different people take part in a delivery, so a birth-injury review looks at who was involved and in what role. Depending on the facts, that may include the hospital's labor and delivery nurses and other staff, the obstetrician, a nurse-midwife, an anesthesiologist, a neonatologist or pediatrician who cared for the baby, and the medical group that employs or contracts with them. A claim is not always against everyone on that list, and often it is against no one, because many injuries are not caused by an error.

A question families ask is what happens if their doctor did not work for the hospital. In many hospitals, including large nonprofit hospitals, some physicians are employees while others are independent doctors or belong to separate medical groups who have privileges to treat patients there. Who employs a provider can affect who may be named in a claim and which insurance applies. You usually cannot tell from the badge or the white coat, so a lawyer looks at the records, the billing and the contracts to find out.

For these reasons, it helps to know the names of the people you remember, but you do not need to figure out who is responsible before you call. The delivery records show who ordered what, who was at the bedside and when. Whether anyone may be responsible is a question for an independent medical expert, and not something a family or a website can decide for you.

How an independent expert review of the delivery works

In a birth-injury case, the first real answer usually comes from an independent review of the medical records by qualified physicians who have no connection to the hospital. The review looks at what the care team knew, when they knew it and what they did, compared with the standard of care, which is what a reasonably careful provider would do in the same situation.

The records an expert usually wants include the fetal heart monitoring strips from labor, which show the baby's heart rate and the mother's contractions over time. They also include the nursing and physician notes, the medication and anesthesia records, the Apgar scores given at one and five minutes after birth, the umbilical cord blood gas results, which measure the baby's oxygen and acid levels at birth, the NICU notes, and any brain imaging such as MRI. Cleveland Clinic lists fetal heart monitoring, Apgar scores, cord blood gases and MRI among the tools doctors use to diagnose HIE.

The expert then answers two questions. Did the care fall below the standard? And if it did, did it cause the injury, as opposed to some other cause, such as an infection, a genetic condition or a problem that began earlier in the pregnancy? A review may find that the care was appropriate, and that is useful information for a family too. It can take weeks to gather the records and complete a careful review, so it is best to begin early.

What to do now: steps for a family after a birth injury

First, focus on your child's health. Keep every appointment with the pediatrician, specialists and therapists, and follow the treatment plan. Ask for copies of discharge papers, test results and referrals. If your child is under three and has delays, ask for an Early Start evaluation right away. It does not depend on whether there is a legal claim.

Second, protect the information. Write down what you remember about the labor and delivery, the names of the people who spoke with you, what you were told, and the dates. Keep bills, insurance letters and photos or videos of the baby. Do not post details of your concerns on social media, and be careful about signing releases or settlement papers from an insurer without advice. Then request the complete records of both mother and baby from the hospital in writing, including the fetal monitoring strips.

Third, talk with a lawyer early, because deadlines in California are strict and some are much shorter than families expect. A child's case has its own deadline, but the parents' own claims can have a shorter one, and a claim against a public hospital generally requires a written claim within six months. A free consultation with a birth-injury lawyer can tell you which deadlines may apply to your situation. Beverly Law reviews cases on a contingency basis, which means there is no fee unless there is a recovery, and talking to us costs nothing.

Support for your child while the case is reviewed

Getting help for your child should never wait for a legal answer. Depending on your child's needs, care may include physical, occupational and speech therapy, feeding support, specialists in neurology or orthopedics, and equipment such as braces or special seating. Cleveland Clinic notes that therapy, early intervention programs and assistive devices are part of the support for children affected by HIE.

Early Start is California's early intervention program for babies and toddlers under three who have a developmental delay or a condition that may cause one. It is run through the regional centers. Children with certain medical conditions may also qualify for California Children's Services (CCS), and many families use Medi-Cal for coverage. Eligibility depends on your child's diagnosis and your family's circumstances, so ask the hospital social worker or your pediatrician which programs to apply for.

We cannot promise any result from a claim, and no legal case replaces the programs above. What an independent review can do is tell you whether the records raise questions that deserve a closer look, so that you can plan your child's care and your family's future with better information.

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 PIH Health Whittier Hospital

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.

To get the labor and delivery records, ask the hospital's Health Information Management (medical records) department at PIH Health Whittier Hospital. According to the hospital's medical records page, you submit a signed Authorization for Use or Disclosure of Health Information, which you can fill out online, or print, scan and upload, or send by mail or fax. The page lists a Whittier HIM fax of 562-967-2908 and a Whittier medical records phone line at (562) 698-0811, extension 13685, and says to allow about 3 to 5 business days. Ask for both the mother's chart and the baby's chart, and name the fetal heart monitoring strips, nursing notes, Apgar scores, cord blood gas results and NICU records.

The hospital’s medical records page →

Where a case from Whittier would be filed

A birth-injury lawsuit from a delivery in Whittier would usually be filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Civil unlimited cases, which include most medical malpractice cases, are typically heard at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Which courthouse and courtroom is used can depend on the case, and the court's website lists the current details.

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

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

Early Start is California's early intervention program for babies and toddlers under age 3 with a developmental delay or a condition that may cause one, and it is delivered through regional centers. The Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC) lists Whittier in its service area, and it has a Whittier office at 13215 Penn St., Suite 410, Whittier, CA 90602, phone (562) 698-0146. The state's Early Start intake line for ELARC is (626) 299-4777. A parent, doctor or caregiver can call to ask for an evaluation, and you do not need a diagnosis or a lawyer. Because a portion of Whittier is served by a neighboring regional center, such as San Gabriel/Pomona Regional Center, confirm yours with the Department of Developmental Services (dds.ca.gov) zip code search.

Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC) →

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 PIH Health Whittier Hospital or PIH Health. 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.