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Was infant death a result of vacuum extractor misuse?

Whatcom County (Wash) Superior Court

A woman at 41 weeks’ gestation presented to her Ob/Gyn for the induction of labor. The doctor used a vacuum extractor to rotate and deliver the infant. During delivery, a tight nuchal cord was noted and cut before the delivery of the infant’s shoulders. The baby died 2 days later of multiorgan system failure.

In suing, the mother contended that the physician was negligent in using a vacuum extractor to deliver an infant from a persistent posterior position. In addition, the mother claimed that her child’s death was due to a subgaleal hemorrhage directly caused by the vacuum extractor.

The physician argued that the infant’s hemorrhage and death were caused by viral sepsis and developing disseminated intravascular coagulation.

  • The case settled for $250,000.
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.
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Whatcom County (Wash) Superior Court

A woman at 41 weeks’ gestation presented to her Ob/Gyn for the induction of labor. The doctor used a vacuum extractor to rotate and deliver the infant. During delivery, a tight nuchal cord was noted and cut before the delivery of the infant’s shoulders. The baby died 2 days later of multiorgan system failure.

In suing, the mother contended that the physician was negligent in using a vacuum extractor to deliver an infant from a persistent posterior position. In addition, the mother claimed that her child’s death was due to a subgaleal hemorrhage directly caused by the vacuum extractor.

The physician argued that the infant’s hemorrhage and death were caused by viral sepsis and developing disseminated intravascular coagulation.

  • The case settled for $250,000.
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.

Whatcom County (Wash) Superior Court

A woman at 41 weeks’ gestation presented to her Ob/Gyn for the induction of labor. The doctor used a vacuum extractor to rotate and deliver the infant. During delivery, a tight nuchal cord was noted and cut before the delivery of the infant’s shoulders. The baby died 2 days later of multiorgan system failure.

In suing, the mother contended that the physician was negligent in using a vacuum extractor to deliver an infant from a persistent posterior position. In addition, the mother claimed that her child’s death was due to a subgaleal hemorrhage directly caused by the vacuum extractor.

The physician argued that the infant’s hemorrhage and death were caused by viral sepsis and developing disseminated intravascular coagulation.

  • The case settled for $250,000.
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.
Issue
OBG Management - 15(04)
Issue
OBG Management - 15(04)
Page Number
96-99
Page Number
96-99
Publications
Publications
Topics
Article Type
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Was infant death a result of vacuum extractor misuse?
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Was infant death a result of vacuum extractor misuse?
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