Attorneys Michael Petruccelli and Steven Osher faced a daunting challenge in defending a South Florida clinic in a medical malpractice jury trial before Broward Circuit Judge Mily Rodriguez-Powell.

It’s a hurdle that comes up frequently in cases that seek to pin blame on doctors after a medical tragedy: How to fight the allegations without appearing to attack the patient—in this case Seahyun Kim, a 9-year-old boy with severe brain injury.