Medical Verdicts

Amniotic fluid embolism precedes mother’s death

OBG Manag. 2003 October;15(10):70-73
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Harris County (Tex) District Court

During the delivery of her fifth child, a woman suffered an amniotic fluid embolism and died. Her son was delivered successfully.

The patient’s husband sued, alleging that the doctors were negligent in failing to perform a timely cesarean section. He claimed that his wife suffered a uterine tear as a result of the prolonged induced labor.

The doctors asserted that amniotic fluid embolism is unpredictable and untreatable.

  • The jury returned a defense verdict.
The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.

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