Florida Mom Sues Hospital For Cutting Off Baby's Finger

The family of an 8-month-old girl is suing a Haines City, Fla., hospital and a nurse after the baby's finger was cut off.

Olguin said regardless of the legal outcome, her daughter will forever wear someone else's mistake.

"It's so hard," said Veronica Olguin. "She was born so perfect and then they cut off her finger."

Veronica had taken her daughter to Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center for a high fever and bronchitis. The baby was discharged after three days. Veronica, 15, said she sat Selena -- who was 3-months-old at the time -- on her lap.

The nurse, Emily Anna Stutz, started cutting the bandage holding the IV in place, but Veronica said Stutz cut too far.

"There was blood squirting everywhere," Veronica said. "I held her head close to my chest … she was red, she was screaming. And I looked at her hand (and) she didn't have her finger any more. I started screaming, 'Her finger! Her finger!' and that's when (the nurse) panicked and she threw her scissors and started screaming for the other doctors. And they came in and they picked the finger up from the floor."

The baby was rushed to Tampa General Hospital, but the nerve endings were reportedly so tiny, surgeons were unable to re-attach the severed finger.

Every time Veronica looks at Selena's left pinky, she's reminded of that October day.

"I literally wake up at night crying, because I dream about everything that happened," Veronica said. "Everything goes through my mind again."

The family attorney, Luzardo Pendas, said they are suing Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center and Stutz for emotional and psychological damage and any developmental challenges Selena will face as she grows up. But the attorney said this is about much more than money, it's about making sure this doesn't happen to another child.

"Hopefully with proper procedures, proper training, (this will) … keep these things from happening," Pendas said.

Veronica said regardless of the legal outcome, her daughter will forever wear someone else's mistake.

Pendas said that after the first contact with hospital officials a few months ago, they have not heard from the hospital and their attorney. That is why the family is now seeking legal action.

On Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson for Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center released the following statement:

"An unfortunate accident occurred at our hospital while an experienced nurse was removing bandages from the tip of a child's finger. We rushed the child to a hand specialist, but unfortunately the tip of the finger could not be reattached.

We deeply regret the harm to the child and want to express our compassion and concern for her and her family. We reached out right away to the child's family and their attorney, but have not been able to reach a mutually agreeable resolution. Again, we want to reiterate our sincere concern for the child and her family."