Did delayed delivery result in infant brain damage?

Los Angeles County (Calif) Superior Court—On June 22, a gravida presented to a clinic complaining she had not felt fetal movement for the past week. On June 24, an ultrasound revealed marked oligohydramnios. The patient immediately underwent a nonstress test, which demonstrated a non-reassuring fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern at 3:30 p.m. As such, the family practitioner determined that the baby needed to be delivered by cesarean section and promptly contacted an Ob/Gyn. The physician was called again at 4:30 p.m. and arrived at 5:18 p.m. The baby was delivered via cesarean section at 6:08 p.m.

At delivery, the infant was heavily stained with meconium and the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck 4 times. The child is now blind, microcephalic, tube-fed, and requires supplemental oxygen.

In suing, the parents contended that the Ob/Gyn was negligent for the following: not ascertaining the true nature of the fetal distress at 3:30 p.m., arriving at the hospital approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes after the initial call, and waiting 50 minutes to deliver the infant.

The physician maintained that the neurologic damage occurred 3 to 5 hours prior to delivery based on the presentation of the infant at delivery, the placental pathology, and the FHR tracing.

The jury returned a defense verdict.

The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.

Los Angeles County (Calif) Superior Court—On June 22, a gravida presented to a clinic complaining she had not felt fetal movement for the past week. On June 24, an ultrasound revealed marked oligohydramnios. The patient immediately underwent a nonstress test, which demonstrated a non-reassuring fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern at 3:30 p.m. As such, the family practitioner determined that the baby needed to be delivered by cesarean section and promptly contacted an Ob/Gyn. The physician was called again at 4:30 p.m. and arrived at 5:18 p.m. The baby was delivered via cesarean section at 6:08 p.m.

At delivery, the infant was heavily stained with meconium and the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck 4 times. The child is now blind, microcephalic, tube-fed, and requires supplemental oxygen.

In suing, the parents contended that the Ob/Gyn was negligent for the following: not ascertaining the true nature of the fetal distress at 3:30 p.m., arriving at the hospital approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes after the initial call, and waiting 50 minutes to deliver the infant.

The physician maintained that the neurologic damage occurred 3 to 5 hours prior to delivery based on the presentation of the infant at delivery, the placental pathology, and the FHR tracing.

The jury returned a defense verdict.

The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.

Los Angeles County (Calif) Superior Court—On June 22, a gravida presented to a clinic complaining she had not felt fetal movement for the past week. On June 24, an ultrasound revealed marked oligohydramnios. The patient immediately underwent a nonstress test, which demonstrated a non-reassuring fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern at 3:30 p.m. As such, the family practitioner determined that the baby needed to be delivered by cesarean section and promptly contacted an Ob/Gyn. The physician was called again at 4:30 p.m. and arrived at 5:18 p.m. The baby was delivered via cesarean section at 6:08 p.m.

At delivery, the infant was heavily stained with meconium and the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck 4 times. The child is now blind, microcephalic, tube-fed, and requires supplemental oxygen.

In suing, the parents contended that the Ob/Gyn was negligent for the following: not ascertaining the true nature of the fetal distress at 3:30 p.m., arriving at the hospital approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes after the initial call, and waiting 50 minutes to deliver the infant.

The physician maintained that the neurologic damage occurred 3 to 5 hours prior to delivery based on the presentation of the infant at delivery, the placental pathology, and the FHR tracing.

The jury returned a defense verdict.

The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.