Kaweah Health Medical Center Birth Injury Lawyers

This page is for families who welcomed a baby at Kaweah Health Medical Center, at 400 West Mineral King Avenue in Visalia, Tulare County, California, and who now have questions about a difficult labor or delivery. Maybe your baby needed time in the NICU, was diagnosed with a condition such as cerebral palsy, or is not reaching milestones the way you expected. Maybe the mother had a serious complication such as heavy bleeding. Whatever brought you here, you deserve plain answers.

Kaweah Health Medical Center is a district hospital run by the Kaweah Delta Healthcare District. According to the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI), its newborn nursery cared for 4,245 babies that year, and its NICU has 23 licensed beds. Many Tulare County families trust this hospital with the births of their children, and most deliveries go well. This guide is not about blaming anyone. It explains, in general terms, what birth injuries are, what warning signs to watch for, and how families can find out whether a medical review of their delivery makes sense.

We also explain how to request your medical records, where a Tulare County case would usually be filed, and how to ask for early help for your child through the regional center. Strict deadlines apply to birth-injury cases, and some are much shorter for public hospitals, so it helps to learn your options early. Nothing here is legal advice for your situation, and talking with an attorney does not commit you to anything.

Labor and delivery at Kaweah Health Medical Center in Visalia

According to the hospital's own website, Kaweah Health's Family Birthing Center includes labor and delivery triage and a labor and delivery unit on 2 East, a Mother Baby Unit on the third floor of the Acequia Tower, and a NICU on the sixth floor. The hospital says it helps deliver more than 4,000 babies each year, and it lists services such as cesarean births scheduled through the patient's obstetrician and cord blood collection for families who bring a kit. Labor and delivery is open and offered today, and the main number is 559-624-2000.

The numbers in the hospital's 2024 report to the state (HCAI) give a sense of scale. The newborn nursery cared for 4,245 babies in 2024. The hospital is licensed for 23 intensive-care newborn beds, and the NICU had 358 discharges that year. These are state-reported figures and say nothing about the quality of any one family's care.

The hospital describes its NICU as a Level III unit designated by California Children's Services (CCS), with a neonatologist on site around the clock, respiratory care practitioners, and CCS-paneled therapists and social workers. In plain words, a Level III NICU is set up to care for babies who are born early or become seriously ill. Kaweah Health Medical Center serves Visalia and the surrounding Tulare County communities, and many families here speak Spanish, which is why this page is offered in both English and Spanish.

Birth injuries families ask about after a difficult delivery

A birth injury is harm to a baby (or sometimes to the mother) that happens around labor and delivery. Many are mild and heal. Some are serious and lasting. The conditions below are general medical information drawn from public health and medical sources. They are not statements about any hospital or any person.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is brain injury from too little oxygen and blood flow around the time of birth. Cleveland Clinic describes signs such as low or tense muscle tone, feeding trouble, irritability, a weak cry, abnormal breathing and seizures. Doctors may treat eligible newborns with controlled cooling, which is generally started in the first hours of life. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect movement, balance and posture. The CDC says most CP is congenital, meaning the brain was affected before or during birth, and that the exact cause is often unknown. A lack of oxygen during birth accounts for only a small share of cases, which is one reason a careful, individual medical review matters.

Erb's palsy, also called brachial plexus birth injury, is damage to the nerves that control the shoulder, arm and hand, often linked to a hard delivery of the shoulder (shoulder dystocia). Cleveland Clinic explains that many babies recover over time and some need therapy or surgery. Other injuries families ask about include bleeding in the newborn brain, a broken collarbone or skull fracture, and infections. The CDC explains that group B strep (GBS), a common bacteria, can pass from mother to baby during delivery and cause sepsis, pneumonia or meningitis, and that pregnant women are screened and may receive antibiotics in labor if needed. For mothers, postpartum hemorrhage (heavy bleeding after birth) is a medical emergency; Cleveland Clinic lists soaking through two pads an hour as a warning sign.

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

Some signs show up in the nursery or NICU: trouble breathing, a weak or high-pitched cry, seizures or jerking movements, floppy or very stiff muscles, poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, a swollen or bruised spot on the head, or an arm that does not move like the other one. Tell the nurses and doctors what you see, and ask them to explain it in words you understand. You have the right to ask questions at any time.

After you go home, watch for a baby who is hard to wake or feed, who has a fever or very low temperature, who seems unusually irritable, or who has repeated seizures. If your baby is struggling to breathe, turns blue or gray, or will not wake, call 911. Many of these signs have common, harmless causes, so a doctor should always be the one to tell you what they mean.

Over the first months, developmental delays are often the first clue. The CDC lists signs of cerebral palsy such as head lag when the baby is lifted, stiffness or floppiness, arching of the back, and legs that stiffen and cross. After six months, signs can include not rolling over, difficulty bringing hands together or to the mouth, or using only one hand. After ten months, a lopsided crawl may be a sign. Some children with these signs do not have CP, so ask your pediatrician for an evaluation. Early support can make a real difference whatever the cause.

Who may be responsible in a birth-injury claim

Many people take part in a delivery, and a medical review looks at each role. Depending on the facts, those involved may include hospital nurses and staff who monitor mother and baby, the obstetrician, a midwife, an anesthesia provider, neonatal and pediatric physicians, and the medical group that employs them. A review looks at what each person did and whether it met the accepted standard of care.

An important question is who employed each person. Some physicians are employees of a hospital. Others are independent doctors or belong to separate medical groups who have privileges to treat patients at the hospital. Your own obstetrician may have practiced in a private office, and some hospitals contract with outside groups for hospitalist, anesthesia or neonatology coverage. The answer affects who can be named in a claim and which rules apply, so it is worth asking early.

If a claim is ever brought, it may involve more than one party. Whether anyone is responsible depends entirely on the medical records and an expert's opinion. Many deliveries with a poor outcome involve no fault at all. That is why the first step is a careful review, not an assumption.

How an independent expert review of a delivery works

A fair review starts with the records, and it is done by qualified, independent medical experts, such as an obstetrician, a neonatologist or a pediatric neurologist, who look at the whole story. They read the prenatal chart, the labor notes and the NICU records in order, and compare what happened with accepted medical practice.

Several records usually matter most. The fetal heart monitoring strips show the baby's heart rate during labor. The Apgar scores rate the baby's condition at one and five minutes after birth. Cord blood gases measure acid and oxygen levels in the umbilical cord blood. Brain imaging such as MRI, plus NICU notes about cooling, seizures and feeding, help show the type and timing of any injury.

The experts then answer two questions: did care fall below the accepted standard, and did that cause the child's injury? Both must be true for a claim to make sense. The review may also help your child's own doctors by clarifying what happened. If the experts find no problem, the family still has a clearer understanding, and that is valuable too.

What to do now after a birth injury: step by step

Start with your child's health. Keep every appointment with the pediatrician and specialists, and follow their advice. Write down dates, diagnoses, names of the departments that treated your baby, and your questions. Keep photos, discharge papers, bills and any letters from insurance.

Next, request the medical records for both mother and baby. A written request is the right path, and the section below explains how to reach this hospital's Health Information Management department. Ask for the complete chart, including the fetal monitoring strips, labor and delivery notes, NICU records and imaging. Do not post details on social media, and do not sign any release that you do not understand.

Then talk with a qualified birth-injury attorney who can arrange an independent review. Consultations are generally free, and a good attorney explains the process without pressure. Because deadlines are strict, and the six-month claim rule for public hospitals can apply here, do not wait for the records to be perfect before asking about your options. You can request the records and ask questions at the same time.

Support while a case is reviewed: therapies, Early Start, Medi-Cal and CCS

Your child's care should not wait for any legal review. Therapies such as physical, occupational and speech therapy, feeding support and specialist visits can start as soon as your child's doctors recommend them. Families often work with a pediatrician, a neurologist, a therapist and a social worker at the same time.

Babies under age 3 with delays or a diagnosed condition may qualify for Early Start, California's early intervention program, through the regional center. California Children's Services (CCS) is a state program for children with certain serious medical conditions, and Medi-Cal may cover many health costs for eligible families. The hospital's own NICU page says its NICU is designated by CCS. Ask your child's doctor or the hospital social worker whether your child may qualify. Eligibility depends on each family's situation and no outcome is guaranteed.

Kaweah Health Medical Center is a public hospital: the six-month claim comes first

Because Kaweah Health Medical Center is a public healthcare district hospital (operated by Kaweah Delta Healthcare District (Kaweah Health)), 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 Kaweah Health 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 request your own or your baby's records from this hospital, contact Health Information Management at Kaweah Health Medical Center. According to the hospital's records page, you can submit a secure online form, or send a signed Authorization to Disclose Health Information form (available in English and Spanish) with a copy of a government-issued ID by email to MedicalRecordRequests@KaweahHealth.org, by fax to 559-741-4888, or by mail to Kaweah Health Medical Center, Attn: Health Information Management, 400 West Mineral King Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291. The department's phone is 559-624-2218. For a baby, a parent or legal guardian makes the request. Ask for the complete chart, including fetal monitoring strips, labor and delivery notes, and NICU records.

The hospital’s medical records page →

Where a case from Visalia would be filed

A civil case arising from a Visalia birth would usually be filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Tulare. The court's website lists civil legal filings at its Visalia Division in the County Civic Center, 221 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, CA 93291 (phone 559-730-5000), and also at the South County Justice Center in Porterville. An attorney can confirm the right courthouse for a specific case, and some claims, such as those against public entities, must meet separate steps before any court filing.

Superior Court of California, County of Tulare – Visalia Division (County Civic Center) → — 221 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, CA 93291

Help for your child now: Early Start in Tulare County

If your baby is under 3 and has delays or a diagnosed condition, you can ask for a free early-intervention evaluation through Early Start. The California Department of Developmental Services lists Central Valley Regional Center, headquartered at 4615 North Marty Avenue, Fresno, as the regional center that serves Tulare County; its phone is 559-276-4300 and its website is cvrc.org. A parent, doctor or hospital social worker can make the referral, and you can call the regional center directly and say you would like an Early Start evaluation for your baby. You do not need a lawyer or a diagnosis to ask.

Central Valley Regional Center →

Key facts

Questions parents ask

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 Kaweah Health Medical Center or Kaweah Delta Healthcare District (Kaweah 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.