The woman claimed she called the hospital the next morning to report continued pain and bleeding, and was told to take a bath. She returned to the hospital the next evening. US revealed a dilated cervix with hour-glassing membranes. The child was delivered at 23-weeks’ gestation and suffers from a brain injury and vision loss.
PLAINTIFF’S CLAIM Premature delivery was due to an incompetent cervix, which could have been treated with cerclage. Diagnostic US and a physical examination by the ObGyn were never performed.
DEFENDANT’S DEFENSE Postdelivery evaluation of the placenta indicated that the mother had chorioamnionitis. Cerclage would have been contraindicated; delivery would have occurred despite any efforts to prolong the pregnancy.
VERDICT A Utah defense verdict was returned.
Did untreated hypertension cause mother’s blindness?
A 34-YEAR-OLD PREGNANT WOMAN was admitted to the hospital with new onset hypertension. Three days later her BP increased to 170/98 mm Hg; her ObGyn performed an emergent cesarean delivery. During the procedure, the woman’s BP rose to 203/120, and remained high in recovery. When she awoke, she reported blurred vision, and was later declared to be legally blind.
PATIENT’S CLAIM The physician failed to properly monitor her BP. Failure to use antihypertensive drugs led to an ischemic event, resulting in vision loss.
PHYSICIAN’S DEFENSE The woman’s BP was properly monitored at all times. She had been diagnosed with Purtscher’s retinopathy syndrome, which predisposed her to pregnancy-related vision loss. Her blindness was not BP-related.
VERDICT A Tennessee defense verdict was returned.
Ruptured ectopic pregnancy not treated properly in ED
WHEN BROUGHT TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, a 25-year-old woman was found to be in hemorrhagic shock following a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Her BP was 42/19 mm Hg. She was taken to surgery, where the ruptured fallopian tube was removed.
After surgery, she complained of tremors in her legs and torso, and had difficulty walking unassisted. She was diagnosed with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and transferred to a rehabilitation facility.
PATIENT’S CLAIM She was not properly resuscitated in the ED; intravenous fluids and transfusions should have been given immediately. Delayed treatment in the ED caused hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy or a conversion disorder.
PHYSICIAN’S DEFENSE Intravenous fluids and transfusions were started appropriately and promptly in the ED. The patient did not suffer hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy; a conversion disorder could have occurred from the stress of the ruptured ectopic pregnancy.
VERDICT An Illinois jury returned a defense verdict.