PATIENT’S CLAIM A bedside ultrasound biophysical profile should have been obtained promptly in the hospital. The initial abnormal results, possible twin discordancy, decreased fetal movement, and nonreactive nonstress test with nonreassuring pattern should have prompted an earlier c-section.
DOCTOR’S DEFENSE Not reported.
VERDICT $1,000,050 settlement.
“Patient knew ureteral injury was a risk”
A 39-year-old woman underwent a hysterectomy, during which a ureteral injury occurred. A urologist was brought in to reimplant the right ureter.
PATIENT’S CLAIM The ObGyn was negligent for causing the ureteral injury.
DOCTOR’S DEFENSE The patient had been informed that bladder tear was a known risk of the surgery.
VERDICT Defense verdict.
The cases in this column are selected by the editors of OBG Management from Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts, with permission of the editor, Lewis Laska, Nashville, Tenn (www.verdictslaska.com). The available information about the cases is sometimes incomplete; pertinent details may be unavailable. Moreover, the cases may or may not have merit. Still, these cases represent types of clinical situations that may result in litigation and are meant to illustrate variation in verdicts and awards. Any illustrations are generic and do not represent a specific legal case.