Child Dies When Premature Membrane Rupture Overlooked By Doctor
Child Dies When Premature Membrane Rupture Overlooked By Doctor
Premature rupture of membranes occurs when the amniotic sac ruptures before the onset of labor. When this happens, a doctor should have the mother admitted to the hospital, where she should be monitored for three or four days at the minimum, should be given an antibiotic to protect against infection and should be prescribed steroids to encourage lung growth in her baby. The reason for encouraging lung growth is because, in situations where premature rupture of membranes happens, the child might have to be be delivered early and, in combination with the steroids, the likelihood of survival increases.
In this situation, the woman went to see her doctor as she felt wetness in her underwear. After she arrived at the hospital, her physician performed a speculum test and connected her to a fetal monitor. About 5 minutes after the examination, the fetal monitor was removed and the mother's doctor told her that she had a yeast infection. The woman was unhappy with the care she received and decided to switch obstetricians and scheduled an appointment with her primary care physician. Yet, before she had her appointment she saw blood in her urine and afraid for her baby's health she went to see her primary care physician right away. At the hospital her doctor told her that her baby did not have a heart beat and confirmed by ultrasound that her baby was no longer alive. Following the delivery of her stillborn baby, her primary care doctor informed her that the membranes of the amniotic sac were ruptured. A situation which could have been recognized earlier and if it had been, her baby may have been saved. A autopsy of the baby showed that the woman had an intrauterine infection which lead to placental abruption in the end causing the child's death.
A case was filed against the mother's obstetrician. At trial the lawyer representing the mother was successful in arguing that the physician did not meet the standard of care. The first time that the mother went to see her obstetrician because of the wetness she noticed in her underwear the obstetrician should have conducted three tests, a nitrazine test, a ferning test and an ultrasound.
A nitrazine test is similar to a litmus test, which tests the ph in a woman's vagina. If the result falls in a certain range it is indicative that the membranes of the amniotic sac has ruptured. The ferning test would have showed the amount of amniotic fluid that was in the mother's vaginal secretion. And the mother's ultrasound would have showed the obstetrician how much amniotic fluid was in the amniotic sac and how much she had lost. However, the obstetrician did not perform any of these tests.
The doctor additionally failed to recognize the signs from the fetal heart monitor that were indicative of cord compression. Moreover, following the doctor's receipt of the test results of the mother's white blood cell count, which signaled that she might have an infection, her physician did not alter his diagnosis, did not inform the mother and did not request that she come back for further testing. As a result, and as reported by the law firm that represented the woman the mother obtained a verdict in the sum of $2.75 million. Fast Teen Weight Loss - A Smart Approach A week off with the kids is best spent at the UK holiday parks Concussions in Children - Don't Take That Bang on Your Child's Head Lightly Why Private Tuition is a Source of Help for Your Child? Pennsylvania Divorce Lawyers: Get Yourself A PA Child Support Calculator Obstetrician And Nurse Pay Out After Allowing Fetal Distress To Deteriorate And Unborn Child Dies How To Make Money For Teenagers Behaved Kids Overnight! Do You Need Help With ADHD? Look At These Facts Before You Decide Any Treatment For Your Child What Is The ADHD and ADD Difference? - Looking At Solutions That Will Help Your Child A Natural ADHD Solution? Options to Give Your Child A Much Better Chance In Life Financial Help For Troubled Teens How To Make A Child Listen - Techniques And Strategies From A Child Behavior Program