14.5 Million Reasons Physicians Practice Defensive Medicine

Cleveland’s MetroHealth Medical Center and a staff physician were recently found liable for a $14.5 million medical malpractice verdict in what is commonly termed a “bad baby” case. The case as described in the article involved 36 year old Stephanie Stewart who was pregnant with her second child. She went to MetroHealth several times for premature labor when the child was 22-23 weeks gestational age (a full term infant is 40 weeks) and was admitted twice, with labor being stopped using medication and bedrest. There were apparently discussions about her requiring a C-section since her first child was delivered by C-section. Six days after being discharged from her second hospital admission, she returned for evaluation after her water broke. At that time, she reportedly asked physicians to give her an immediate C-section to deliver her 24 week old baby, but they do not do so. The attending physician arrived later that afternoon and she again requested a C-section, but the attending doctor noted that the baby appeared “healthy” on the monitor. Three and a half hours later, the baby showed signs of distress. Doctors performed an emergency C-section, but the child was unfortunately born with a brain hemorrhage, cerebral palsy, cognitive delays, visual impairments, and “other issues that will require lifelong care.” The doctor and hospital were sued and after a trial, according to the plaintiff’s attorney, the “jury determin...
Source: WhiteCoat's Call Room - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Defensive Medicine Medical-Legal Source Type: blogs