This page is for families who welcomed a baby at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, the county hospital at 751 South Bascom Avenue in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, and who now have questions about how the delivery went. Maybe your baby needed intensive care, was diagnosed with a brain injury, has an arm that does not move normally, or is missing developmental milestones. Maybe you are a mother who had a serious complication of your own. Wanting answers is natural, and you are not alone in asking.
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center is part of the County of Santa Clara's health system. According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), its newborn nursery cared for 3,005 babies that year, and the hospital reported 40 licensed intensive-care newborn beds and 320 NICU discharges. Those numbers show that many local families go through the same experience of birth, and that some babies need extra care in the first days of life.
Below you will find plain-language information about common birth injuries, warning signs, who may be involved in a claim, how an independent medical review works, how to request your records, where a Santa Clara County case would usually be filed, and what early help is available for your child. This is general education, not legal advice about any specific delivery, and nothing here says that anyone did anything wrong. Most of all, it is meant to help you understand your options and your time limits so you can decide what is right for your family.
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At a glance: Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
| Address | 751 South Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128 |
| County | Santa Clara County |
| Health system / operator | County of Santa Clara (Santa Clara Valley Healthcare) |
| Type of hospital | Public hospital (county or public hospital authority) |
| Newborns in 2024 | 3,005 (report to the state, HCAI) |
| Licensed NICU beds | 40 |
| NICU level | Level IV |
| Main phone | 408-885-2699 |
| Hospital website | scvmc.scvh.org |
Sources: HCAI — 2024 Hospital Annual Utilization Report and the hospital’s own website.
Labor and delivery at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose
According to the hospital's own website, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center has a Birth Center that serves families across Santa Clara County. The hospital describes private birthing and postpartum suites, care coordination with a network of prenatal clinics, and a Level IV NICU for babies who need the most specialized newborn care. Its pregnancy and birth pages also note that many employees are bilingual, with fluency in Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Korean and Punjabi, which matters for a diverse community.
The hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI) adds some numbers. The newborn nursery cared for 3,005 babies, the hospital is licensed for 40 intensive-care newborn beds, and it reported 320 NICU discharges for the year. A NICU, or neonatal intensive care unit, is where babies born early, babies with breathing problems, infections, low blood sugar or signs of oxygen shortage, and babies who need close monitoring are cared for by specialized doctors and nurses.
The hospital is operated by the County of Santa Clara, which makes it a public hospital. That detail does not change the quality of the care a family hopes to receive, but it can matter later if a family has legal questions, because claims involving public entities follow special rules. We explain that below in general terms, and a verified legal summary follows this text.
Birth injuries families ask about after a difficult delivery
Families usually come to this topic with a diagnosis or a worry. One of the most serious is hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, brain injury from too little oxygen and blood flow around the time of birth. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that cooling therapy, started within the first hours of life, is a recognized treatment for term babies with moderate to severe HIE, which is one reason the NICU team moves quickly when HIE is suspected.
Cerebral palsy is a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement, balance and posture. The CDC explains that most cases are congenital, meaning they begin before or during birth, that the cause is often unknown, and that lack of oxygen during birth now appears to account for only a small number of cases. It also explains that cerebral palsy is usually diagnosed over time through developmental monitoring and evaluation. A diagnosis does not by itself tell a family why it happened, which is exactly why some families ask for an independent review of the records.
Other injuries families ask about include Erb's palsy and other brachial plexus injuries, in which the nerves of the shoulder and arm are stretched and the baby has weakness in an arm. Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic note a link with shoulder dystocia, when a baby's shoulder is stuck during delivery, and that many babies recover with time and therapy, though some do not fully. Families also ask about bleeding in the newborn brain, a broken collarbone or skull fracture, newborn infections such as group B strep (GBS), and complications for the mother such as heavy bleeding (postpartum hemorrhage). Each of these has many possible causes, and some happen even with excellent care. This section is general medical information and is not about any particular hospital.
Warning signs in the first days, weeks and months
In the first days, parents and nurses watch for trouble breathing, a weak or unusual cry, poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, a floppy or very stiff body, seizures (which can look like repeated jerking, lip smacking or staring), a low or high temperature, yellow skin that is getting worse, and an arm or leg that is not moving like the other one. If you noticed any of these and were never given a clear explanation, write down what you remember while it is fresh.
In the first weeks and months, signs can be quieter. The CDC lists signs of possible cerebral palsy in babies under six months such as the head lagging when the baby is lifted, a body that feels very stiff or floppy, an arched back and neck, and stiff legs that cross or scissor. After about six months, a baby who does not roll over, cannot bring the hands together or reaches with only one hand may need an evaluation. Missing milestones does not always mean something serious, but it is worth acting on early.
You do not need a diagnosis to ask for help. California's Early Start program, described below, accepts concerns from parents directly. Tell your pediatrician what you see, ask for a developmental screening, and keep a simple log of dates, symptoms, appointments and the names of programs you contact. Those notes can also help a lawyer or medical reviewer later.
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Who may be responsible in a birth-injury claim
Many people take part in a delivery, and in a claim the question is whether the care met accepted medical standards and whether any shortfall caused the injury. Depending on the facts, those who may be reviewed include the nurses and other hospital staff who monitored the mother and baby, the obstetrician, a midwife, anesthesia providers, the neonatologist or NICU team, and the medical group or clinic that coordinated prenatal care. Whether anyone is responsible is exactly what a careful review is meant to find out, and in many cases the answer is that no one is.
Employment matters. Some doctors are employees of the hospital, while others are independent physicians or belong to separate medical groups that have privileges at the hospital. That can affect who is named in a claim and which rules apply. If your doctor did not work for the hospital, you may still have options, and the records will usually show who was involved at each step.
Because this hospital is run by the County of Santa Clara, claims against it fall under the rules for public entities, including a short written claim requirement that comes before any lawsuit. Claims against private physicians follow different rules. For that reason it is wise to have the whole situation reviewed early, rather than assuming one deadline fits every person involved.
How an independent expert review of a delivery works
An independent review begins with the medical records. A reviewer, usually a physician with obstetric or neonatal experience, reads the prenatal chart, the labor and delivery notes, the nursing notes and the NICU records. Several items are especially useful: the fetal heart monitoring strips, which show the baby's heart rate and the mother's contractions over time; Apgar scores, which are quick scores at one and five minutes of life; umbilical cord blood gases, which show how well the baby was getting oxygen; and any brain imaging, such as an MRI.
The reviewer builds a timeline. What did the monitoring show, who saw it, what was done and when? How quickly did the NICU team respond? Did the baby's condition match what is known about the cause of this kind of injury? The reviewer then gives an opinion on whether the care met the standard and whether it likely made a difference. Sometimes the answer is reassuring. Sometimes it identifies questions worth pursuing.
A review is not a lawsuit and does not require you to commit to anything. It is a way to move from not knowing to knowing. In California, a written notice of intent to sue must be given to a health care provider before a malpractice suit is filed, and that notice is part of the formal process that follows a review, not a step you need to take on your own.
What to do now after a birth injury: step by step
First, take care of your child and yourself. Keep every medical appointment, follow the NICU and pediatric instructions, and ask the care team to explain the diagnosis in plain language. Interpreters are your right, so ask for one if you prefer to speak Spanish or another language.
Second, request the records. The hospital requires a signed written request, and the details are in the records section below. Ask for the mother's chart and the baby's chart separately, including the fetal monitoring strips and the NICU notes. Keep copies of discharge papers, bills, photos and any messages from the hospital.
Third, write down your own account: dates, times, who said what, and what you were told. Fourth, ask for developmental help right away through Early Start and your pediatrician. Fifth, speak with a birth-injury lawyer early, because the deadlines for families can be strict, and the six-month written claim for public hospitals is much shorter than many parents expect. Talking to a lawyer is a way to learn about your rights, and you can decide afterward what, if anything, to do.
Support while a case is reviewed: Early Start, therapies, Medi-Cal and CCS
Your child's care should not wait for any legal question. Babies and toddlers under three with a delay or a condition that raises the chance of a delay may qualify for Early Start, and services can include physical, occupational and speech therapy, family training and help planning next steps. In San Jose, Early Start is provided through the regional center for Santa Clara County, the San Andreas Regional Center.
Many children with serious conditions also qualify for health coverage and specialty care programs such as Medi-Cal and California Children's Services (CCS), which can help pay for specialists, equipment and therapy for eligible children. Eligibility depends on your family's situation and your child's diagnosis, so ask the hospital social worker or your pediatrician to point you to the right application.
No page can promise any outcome, and a legal review is separate from your child's medical care. What we can say is that organizing your records, asking for early services and learning your deadlines are all steps that protect your child's future, whatever the review finds.
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center is a public hospital: the six-month claim comes first
Because Santa Clara Valley Medical Center is a county / public hospital (operated by County of Santa Clara (Santa Clara Valley Healthcare)), a claim for an injury at birth usually has to start with a written government claim, not a lawsuit. This is the single most important deadline on this page.
Many California babies are born at county or University of California hospitals: LAC+USC, Harbor-UCLA, Olive View-UCLA, Riverside University Health System, Arrowhead Regional, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Davis and others. These are public entities, and the Government Claims Act applies. Under Government Code § 911.2, a written claim for injury or death must be presented to the public entity within six months of the injury, before any lawsuit. If the claim is rejected in writing, Government Code § 945.6 gives six months from that notice to file suit. The child’s longer deadline under Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5 does not replace this six-month claim, so families with a public-hospital birth should act right away.
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.
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 Santa Clara Valley Medical 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.
To get the records from this hospital, contact the Release of Information office at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. According to the hospital's records page, it requires a completed, dated and signed Request for Release of Medical Record Information form before releasing records to anyone, including the patient. Requests can be mailed or delivered to 751 S. Bascom Ave., Room 1C037, San Jose, CA 95128, or faxed to (408) 885-5170, attention Release of Information, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. Questions can go to (408) 885-3764. Ask for the mother's chart and the baby's chart separately, including the fetal monitoring strips and NICU notes. Because a baby's records are requested by a parent or guardian, bring identification, and confirm the current form and contact details with the office before you send anything.
The hospital’s medical records page →
Where a case from San Jose would be filed
A birth-injury case from Santa Clara County would usually be filed as an unlimited civil case in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. According to the court's website, civil cases are heard at the Downtown Superior Court, 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113. Claims against a public hospital must first go through a written claim process before a lawsuit can be filed in court.
Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara – Downtown Superior Court → — 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Help for your child now: Early Start in Santa Clara County
In San Jose and the rest of Santa Clara County, Early Start (early intervention for babies and toddlers under 3) is arranged through the San Andreas Regional Center, which serves Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties; its main office is at 6203 San Ignacio Avenue, Suite 200, San Jose, and its main phone is 408-374-9960. You do not need a diagnosis or a doctor's referral to ask for an evaluation. Call or visit the regional center's website, say that you are worried about your baby's development, and ask for an Early Start intake evaluation. The California Department of Developmental Services (dds.ca.gov) also lists Early Start contacts if you need help finding the right office.
Key facts
- Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, at 751 South Bascom Avenue in San Jose, is a county hospital operated by the County of Santa Clara.
- According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), its newborn nursery cared for 3,005 babies and it reported 40 licensed NICU beds and 320 NICU discharges.
- The hospital's own website describes a Birth Center with private birthing and postpartum suites and a Level IV NICU.
- A baby's parent or guardian can request the delivery and NICU records in writing, and getting them early is one of the most helpful first steps.
- Because this is a public hospital, there is a short written-claim step before a lawsuit, so it is wise to get advice early.
Questions parents ask
Can I file a birth-injury claim against Santa Clara Valley Medical Center?
Families may be able to bring a claim if a qualified medical reviewer finds that the care did not meet accepted standards and that this caused the injury. Many birth injuries happen without anyone doing anything wrong, so the first step is a records review. A lawyer can explain whether your situation is worth pursuing.
How long do I have to file a birth-injury claim?
California has strict deadlines. A child's own claim usually has a longer deadline than a parent's claim, but the parents' claims can be much shorter. Because Santa Clara Valley Medical Center is a county hospital, a written claim to the public entity has a short six-month deadline that comes before any lawsuit. Do not wait to ask for advice.
Is Santa Clara Valley Medical Center a public hospital?
Yes. In its report to the state, the hospital lists the County of Santa Clara as its parent organization and its type of control as city or county. Claims against public hospitals follow the Government Claims Act, which includes the short written-claim step.
What if my doctor did not work for the hospital?
Some doctors are independent or belong to separate medical groups. That can change who may be named in a claim and which deadlines apply, but it does not mean you have no options. The records usually show who took part in the delivery, and a lawyer can sort out employment and responsibility for you.
How do I get my fetal monitoring strips from Santa Clara Valley Medical Center?
Send a signed Request for Release of Medical Record Information form to the hospital's Release of Information office at 751 S. Bascom Ave., Room 1C037, San Jose, CA 95128, or by fax to (408) 885-5170. Ask specifically for the fetal monitoring strips, the labor and delivery chart and the NICU notes. California law gives parents a right to these records.
Does it cost anything to talk to a lawyer?
Many birth-injury lawyers offer a free first conversation, and many take cases on a contingency basis, meaning no fee unless there is a recovery. Ask about costs and fees in writing before you sign anything. A first call lets you ask questions without any commitment.
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Other Santa Clara County hospitals we cover
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital · Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara · El Camino Health
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Birth Injury Lawyers — Beverly Law
Free case review for families in San Jose. We obtain the delivery records, have them reviewed by medical experts and deal with the hospital and its insurer — you focus on your child. You pay no fees or costs unless we win.
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
Sources
- HCAI — 2024 Hospital Annual Utilization Report (final, October 2025)
- Santa Clara Valley Medical Center – Birth Center — Labor and delivery services, private birthing and postpartum suites, and the Level IV NICU as described by the hospital
- Santa Clara Valley Medical Center – Pregnancy and Birth — Labor and delivery unit and bilingual staff languages
- Santa Clara Valley Medical Center – Requesting Medical Records — Records request form, mailing address, fax, hours and phone numbers
- Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara – Downtown Superior Court — Courthouse address and civil case location
- California Department of Developmental Services – Regional Center Listings — San Andreas Regional Center address, phone and counties served
- CDC – About Cerebral Palsy — Definition, causes, early signs and diagnosis of cerebral palsy
- Cleveland Clinic – Erb's Palsy — Erb's palsy, its link to shoulder dystocia and recovery
- Mayo Clinic – Brachial plexus injury — Brachial plexus injury causes and risk factors at birth
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP) – Therapeutic hypothermia for HIE — Cooling treatment for newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
- Government Code § 911.2
- Government Code § 945.6
- Code of Civil Procedure § 340.5
- Civil Code § 3333.2 (as amended by AB 35, 2022)
- Health and Safety Code § 123110 (patient access to records)
Beverly Law is an independent law firm. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or speaking for Santa Clara Valley Medical Center or County of Santa Clara (Santa Clara Valley Healthcare). 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.