$1.425 million Settlement: Anesthetists, surgeons at odds over need for hysterectomy

Plaintiff asserts efforts to resuscitate bleeding mom were too little and too late

In a medical negligence case, damages were sought for the wrongful death of a mother who died during a C-section delivery. During the surgery, just before cutting into the uterus, the surgeon noted abnormal blood vessels overlying the uterus, which raised his suspicion for placenta accreta, a condition that can cause the mother to bleed excessively upon delivery of the fetus. When the baby was delivered, the mother suffered a massive bleed. Discovery revealed that after the bleed, extra anesthesia and surgical help was summoned; blood and blood products were ordered but some were not given; blood warmers were not immediately available; and that the anesthetists were at odds with the surgeons as to the need for hysterectomy to stop the bleeding.
The mother died during the eventual hysterectomy about an hour after the delivery.
Plaintiff argued that the resuscitation efforts were too little and too late, and that that special precautions such as ordering blood and blood products; ensuring blood warmers were in place; and obtaining back-up surgical assistance could and should have been taken, as delivery was not emergent. No such precautions were taken.

Type of action: Medical negligence
Type of injuries: Wrongful death

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