One twin has cerebral palsy; $103 million verdict
AFTER PREMATURE RUPTURE OF MEMBRANES at 25 weeks’ gestation, a woman went to the emergency department (ED) and was later released. Eight days later, she returned to the ED with abdominal pain; a soporific drug was administered. After several hours, it was determined that she was in labor. Twins were delivered vaginally. One child has cerebral palsy and requires assistance in daily activities, although her cognitive function is intact.
PARENTS’ CLAIM The mother should not have been released after premature rupture of her membranes. The nurses and ObGyns failed to timely recognize that the mother was in labor, and failed to prevent premature delivery. Proper recognition of contractions would have allowed for administration of a tocolytic to delay delivery. That drug had been effectively administered during the first two trimesters of the pregnancy. A cesarean delivery should have been performed.
DEFENDANTS’ DEFENSE There was no negligence. The hospital argued that fetal heart-rate monitors did not suggest contractions.
VERDICT A $103 million New York verdict was returned against the hospital; a defense verdict was returned for the physicians.
Perforated uterus and severed iliac artery after D&C
A GYNECOLOGIC SURGEON performed a dilation and curettage (D&C) on a 47-year-old woman. During surgery, the patient suffered a perforated uterus and a severed iliac artery, resulting in a myocardial infarction.
PATIENT’S CLAIM The surgeon failed to dilate the cervix appropriately to assess the cervical and endometrial cavity length, and then failed to use proper instrumentation in the uterus. He did not assess uterine shape before the D&C. The patient suffered cognitive and emotional injuries, and will require additional surgery.
PHYSICIAN’S DEFENSE The patient’s anatomy is abnormal. A perforation is a known complication of a D&C.
VERDICT A $350,000 Wisconsin settlement was reached.
Failure to monitor a high-risk patient
A WOMAN WITH A HEART CONDITION who routinely took a beta-blocker plus migraine medication also had lupus. Her pregnancy was therefore at high risk for developing intrauterine growth restriction. Her US Navy ObGyn was advised by a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist to monitor the pregnancy closely with frequent ultrasonography and other tests that were never performed.
The baby was born by emergency cesarean delivery at 36 weeks’ gestation. The child suffered severe hypoxia and a brain hemorrhage just before delivery, which caused serious, permanent physical and neurologic injuries. He needs 24-hour care, is confined to a wheelchair, and requires a feeding tube.
PATIENT’S CLAIM The ObGyn failed to monitor the mother for fetal growth restriction as recommended by the MFM specialist.
DEFENDANTS’ DEFENSE There was no negligence; the mother was treated properly.
VERDICT After a $28 million Virginia verdict was awarded, the parties continued to dispute whether the judgment would be paid under California law (where the child was born) or Virginia law (where the case was filed). Prior to a rehearing, a $25 million settlement was reached.
Uterine cancer went undiagnosed
A WOMAN IN HER 50s saw her gynecologist in March 2004 to report vaginal staining. She did not return to the physician’s office until January 2005, when she reported daily vaginal bleeding. Ultrasonography showed a 4-cm mass in the endometrial cavity, consistent with a large polyp. A hysteroscopy and biopsy revealed that the woman had uterine cancer. She underwent a hysterectomy and radiation therapy, but the cancer metastasized to her lungs and she died in October 2006.
ESTATE’S CLAIM The gynecologist failed to diagnose uterine cancer in a timely manner.
PHYSICIAN’S DEFENSE The patient’s cancer was aggressive; an earlier diagnosis would not have changed the outcome.
VERDICT A $820,000 Massachusetts settlement was reached.
Severe stenosis closes vaginal opening after TVT-O surgery
WHEN A 51-YEAR-OLD WOMAN NOTICED A BULGE in her vagina, she consulted her gynecologist. He determined the cause to be a cystocele and rectocele, and recommended a tension-free vaginal tape–obturator (TVT-O) procedure with anterior and posterior colporrhaphy.
The patient awoke from surgery in severe pain and was told that she had lost a lot of blood. Two weeks later, the physician explained that the stitches, not yet absorbed, were causing an abrasion, and that more vaginal tissue had been removed than planned.
Two more weeks passed, and the patient used a mirror to look at her vagina but could not see the opening. The TVT-O tape had created a ridge of tissue in the anterior vagina, causing severe stenosis. Vaginal dilators were required to expand the vagina. Entrapment of the dorsal clitoral nerve by the TVT-O tape was also discovered. The patient continues to experience dyspareunia and groin pain.
PATIENT’S CLAIM The gynecologist failed to tell her that, 2 months before surgery, the FDA had issued a public health warning about complications associated with transvaginal placement of surgical mesh during prolapse and urinary incontinence repair. Nor was she informed that the defendant had just completed training in TVT-O surgery, was not fully credentialed, and was proctored during the procedure.
PHYSICIAN’S DEFENSE The case was settled before the trial concluded.
VERDICT A $390,000 Virginia settlement was reached.