DEFENDANTS’ DEFENSE The case was settled before trial.
VERDICT A $14 million New Jersey settlement was reached against the hospital and ObGyn.
Excessive traction blamed for nerve injury
AN INFANT’S LEFT ARM WAS FLACCID after vaginal delivery. The child has limited range of motion and loss of strength in the left arm. Shoulder surgery has been recommended.
PATIENT’S CLAIM Excessive force and traction were exerted on the baby’s head after encountering shoulder dystocia. This caused a stretch injury to the brachial plexus nerves at C5–6.
PHYSICIAN’S DEFENSE The McRobert’s maneuver was properly used to resolve shoulder dystocia. Only gentle downward traction was used.
VERDICT An Illinois defense verdict was returned.
Drug error leads to nipple necrosis
AT RIGHT BREAST EXCISIONAL BIOPSY, a woman was given four localized injections in the same tissue space: methylene blue dye; bupivacaine, 0.25 mg with epinephrine; sodium phosphate, 2 cc; and sodium bicarbonate, 2 cc. After surgery, the patient’s right nipple began to turn black and became necrotic. A wound specialist advised her to have the nipple removed and the area debrided. She received wound treatment for several months.
PATIENT’S CLAIM Medical center staff was negligent, including OR nurses and physician who injected the sodium phosphate.
DEFENDANTS’ DEFENSE The physician who administered the sodium phosphate testified that she injected less than 1 cc before realizing the mistake. An OR nurse contacted the pharmacy; the pharmacist did not believe that there would be any damage. After surgery, the defendants admitted their error to the woman.
VERDICT Suits against the physician who injected the sodium phosphate and OR nurses were dismissed prior to trial. A $23,363 Idaho verdict was returned against the medical center.
Death postop from bowel injury
A WOMAN UNDERWENT SURGERY for blocked fallopian tubes and adhesions—procedures recommended by her ObGyn to improve her chance of successful in vitro fertilization. A surgeon performed the procedures, noting that a superficial bowel injury had occurred, and she was discharged.
The next morning, she called the ObGyn’s office to report abdominal pain; he did not ask her to come to the office. She died 2 days later.
ESTATE’S CLAIM The ObGyn should not have agreed to discharge her, particularly because the surgeon had noticed the bowel injury. The ObGyn should have examined her when she called to report abdominal pain the morning after surgery.
PHYSICIAN’S DEFENSE It was proper to rely on the surgeon’s judgment, particularly because abdominal surgery and evaluation of bowel injury were not within the ObGyn’s expertise. Abdominal pain 1 or 2 days after abdominal surgery is insufficient reason to suspect bowel perforation or evaluation. The ObGyn called the woman two times later that day, and, based on her description, believed that she was improving.
VERDICT A Virginia defense verdict was returned.