The Eugene parents of an infant who died at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend before taking her first breath are suing PeaceHealth for $1 million, claiming RiverBend's negligence inflicted emotion distress on the couple.

According to a lawsuit filed on behalf of Julie Hamilton and Fredrick Dietzen earlier this month in Lane County Circuit Court, the infant, Rosemary, was pronounced dead at the time of her birth on Jan. 10, 2017, after PeaceHealth rescheduled Hamilton's labor induction.

PeaceHealth released a statement Monday, "We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing our patients with safe, high-quality and compassionate care every time. But consistent with PeaceHealth’s core Values, we are unable to comment on the specifics of the case as part of our commitment to ensuring a fair and just legal review."

The lawsuit explains Hamilton had been examined on several occasions by PeaceHealth Midwifery personnel, the last two occurring on Jan. 3 and Jan. 6, 2017. On one of these occasions, the lawsuit states, the examination "was non-reassuring" to the couple and on Jan. 6, PeaceHealth recommended to Hamilton that she be induced, meaning to start labor. But PeaceHealth was unable to accommodate Hamilton on that date and rescheduled her for Jan. 10, the lawsuit states.

Hamilton was induced Jan. 10 but during labor, the baby's heartbeat stopped. An emergency C-section was performed and "revealed fetal demise," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit alleges PeaceHealth failed to diagnose intra-uterine infections, failed to treat the infections with antibiotics, failed to diagnose Rosemary's intra-uterine distress and decreased fetal heart tones and failed to induce Hamilton's labor on or before Jan. 6.

The lawsuit also states Dietzen "was particularly vulnerable to suffer severe emotional harm in connection with the sudden unexpected death of his daughter," which PeaceHeath knew or should have known.

The couple both suffered "severe, permanent and life-altering emotional distress," the lawsuit states.