On the afternoon of April 3, 2019, Robinson presented herself at the emergency room of Tift Regional Hospital with lower abdominal pain around her bladder and an elevated heart rate — signs of infection. UOG’s on-call obstetrician hospitalist suspected a UTI and ordered a series of tests to confirm or rule out the diagnosis…medicalmalpracticelawyers, Georgia Appellate Court Affirms $10.5 Medical Malpractice Verdict For Death Of Twins During Birth.
Around 7:00 p.m., Robinson’s care was taken over by Dr. Chiera, another on-call obstetrician with UOG. During the “hand-off” of care, the on-call physician informed Dr.Chiera about Robinson’s high-risk pregnancy and the UTI tests, the results which had not yet been returned. Robinson’s test results came back that evening indicating an elevated white blood cell count and the presence of bacteria and red and white blood cells in her urine — signs of infection. Dr.Chiera received the lab results, but without examining or speaking to Robinson, discharged her without treatment.
The following day, Robinson began experiencing chills, persistent back pain, and a fever. She returned to the hospital, but by that point, the infection had spread to her uterus, where it caused a uterine infection and/or chorioamnionitis—intra-amniotic infection and inflammation.
Dr.Chiera informed Robinson that her life was at risk and that the twins needed to be delivered immediately. Robinson’s son was delivered stillborn, and her daughter died shortly after she was born. Robinson and Tumbling sued UOG, The Howard Center, and Dr.Chiera for the twins’ wrongful deaths.
At trial, expert testimony established that Dr.Chiera violated the standard of care by discharging Robinson on April 3, and that if she had been treated with antibiotics, the infection likely would not have spread and the twins would have survived. The jury found the defendants liable and awarded the plaintiffs 10,500,000 in damages — $5.25 million per child. The defendants filed a motion for a new trial, as amended, which was denied.