The mother also alleged that she required a hysterectomy as a result of the OB’s alleged negligence…$3.25M Massachusetts Birth Injury Wrongful Death Settlement
The plaintiff went to the hospital on August 21, 2023, where she was admitted to the labor and delivery unit so that labor could be induced.
The fetal monitor indicated that the baby was healthy throughout that day. However, the fetal monitor began showing fetal decelerations with minimal variability early the next morning. Despite the nurse advising the OB about the decelerations, the OB did not come to the patient’s bedside to evaluate her condition until three hours later, at which time the OB decided to continue planning for a C-section delivery.
The fetal heart rate continued to show changes for the next three hours. The C-section was subsequently performed, during which the baby was delivered lifeless.
The plaintiff was transported to the PACU after delivery, where she developed heavy bleeding and therefore was brought back to the operating room. The surgeon discovered that the OB had sutured the lower portion of the uterus to the C-section incision, and that part of the uterus that was not sutured was the source of the heavy bleeding. The surgeon attempted to stem the heavy bleeding by repairing the uterus but determined that a hysterectomy had to be performed to save the woman’s life.
The plaintiff’s experts were reportedly prepared to testify at trial that the OB was negligent by failing to deliver the baby by C-section when the fetal heart monitor tracings became worrisome, and that had the OB timely performed the C-section, the baby would have been delivered healthy.
The case was settled by the parties before it went into trial.