Patient denies consent to endometriosis treatment

Patient denies consent to endometriosis treatment
A woman underwent laparoscopic surgery to remove an ovarian cyst. During surgery, the gynecologist found endometriosis and used electrosurgery to destroy the implants. Following extensive electrosurgery, a hemorrhage occurred. The gynecologist placed 5 large clips to control bleeding. The patient was discharged. When she returned to the hospital in pain, she was sent home again. She visited another emergency department (ED), where a clip was found to have blocked a ureter. She underwent ureteroneocystostomy to repair the damage. The patient now reports incontinence, a ligated ureter, and extensive scar tissue, which may keep her from being able to become pregnant.

Patient’s claim She only consented to ovarian cyst removal, not to any other procedures. The gynecologist was negligent in performing electrosurgery and placing the clips. A urologist should have checked for injury.

Physician’s defense When a patient agrees to laparoscopic surgery, she also agrees to exploratory abdominal surgery. The gynecologist performs electrosurgery to treat endometriosis in 30% to 60% of her surgical cases. Electrosurgery was essential to stop the patient’s pain. The clips were carefully placed when treating the hemorrhage.

Verdict A $206,886 California verdict was returned against the gynecologist.

Eclampsia, death: $6.9M settlement
A mother delivered a healthy baby on May 21. Twice in the week following delivery, she returned to the ED reporting shortness of breath, swollen legs, and elevated blood pressure. Pulmonary embolism was excluded both times. After the second visit, she was discharged with a diagnosis of shortness of breath of unknown etiology. The patient’s ObGyn was not contacted nor was urinalysis performed. On June 1, she suffered seizures and brain injury; she died on June 10.

Estate’s claim The ED physicians failed to diagnose and treat eclampsia.

Defendant’s defense The case was settled early in the trial.

Verdict A $6.9 million Illinois settlement was reached with the hospital.

Child has CP: $8M settlement
At 40 1/7 weeks’ gestation, labor was induced in an obese woman who had a heart condition. Over the next 36 hours, dinoprostone and oxytocin were administered, but her cervix only dilated to 2 cm. Two days later, the fetal heart rate reached 160 bpm. The ObGyn ordered terbutaline in anticipation of cesarean delivery, but he did not come to the hospital. The fetal heart rate continued to rise and then bradycardia occurred. When notified, the ObGyn came to the hospital for an emergency cesarean delivery. The child was severely depressed at birth with Apgar scores of 0, 1, and 2 at 1, 5, and 10 minutes, respectively. Magnetic resonance imaging at 23 days showed distinct hypoxic ischemic injury in the infant. Cerebral palsy was later diagnosed. The child is nonambulatory with significant cognitive impairment.

Parents’ claim Failure to perform cesarean delivery in a timely manner caused injury to the child.

Defendant’s defense The case was settled during the trial.

Verdict An $8 million Wisconsin settlement was reached with the medical center and physician group.

Infant has a stroke: $3M settlement
A 26-year-old diabetic woman was referred to a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist. She had been hospitalized for nausea and dehydration several times during her pregnancy, but it appeared that fetal development was normal.

As labor progressed, fetal distress was diagnosed in the setting of low blood pressure. When notified, the MFM immediately ordered an emergency cesarean delivery. A few days after birth, it was determined that the child had a stroke in utero.

Parents’ claim Emergency cesarean delivery should have been performed earlier. Hospital staff did not communicate fetal distress to the MFM in a timely manner.

Defendant’s defense The case was settled at trial.

Verdict A $3 million Connecticut settlement was reached with the hospital.