Pierce County (Wash) Superior Court
After calling her physician with complaints of decreased fetal movement, a woman at 32 weeks’ gestation presented to the hospital. Fetal heart tracings were nonreassuring and an ultrasound biophysical profile was scored at 0/8. An emergency cesarean was ordered.
The patient, as a child, had had a tracheotomy, but the defendant Ob/Gyn never informed the anesthesiologist of this history. This led to complications in the attempts to intubate the mother, and thus delayed the delivery. The child now suffers cerebral palsy.
- The case settled for $8 million.