Medical Verdicts

Did fetal injury occur before hospital arrival?


 

Undisclosed California venue

Soon after a woman at full term presented to a hospital, fetal compromise was noted on heart-rate tracings, but no intervention was taken. At birth the child suffered severe acute asphyxia, leading to brain damage, kidney failure, and hypertension.

In suing, the plaintiff claimed that the Ob/Gyn was negligent for not responding to the fetal distress in a timely manner.

The defense argued that the child’s injury occurred before the mother presented to the hospital, and maintained that delivery staff acted expeditiously once further deterioration was noted on fetal monitoring.

  • The parties settled for $1.3 million.
The cases in this column are selected by the editors of OBG Management from Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts, with permission of the editor, Lewis Laska, of Nashville, Tenn (www.verdictslaska.com). While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.

Recommended Reading

Cesarean declined, stillbirth follows
MDedge ObGyn
Could preterm twins have been saved?
MDedge ObGyn
Ultrasound included with D&C?
MDedge ObGyn
Estradiol assessment: What’s the difference?
MDedge ObGyn
Unconfirmed pregnancy: Tips on a new code
MDedge ObGyn
Was ovary removed without consent?
MDedge ObGyn
New mother dies after normal delivery
MDedge ObGyn
Nurses urge Ob/Gyn to perform cesarean
MDedge ObGyn
Fetus expelled to floor after D&C
MDedge ObGyn
Was fetal presentation compound?
MDedge ObGyn