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Emory Decatur Hospital complaint alleges delayed emergency C-section after fetal distress

The complaint alleges that a high-risk labor induction at Emory Decatur Hospital involved preeclampsia, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, fetal heart-rate decelerations, and later loss of fetal heartbeat. According to the complaint, staff delayed calling for emergency assistance after the fetal heartbeat was lost, the attending midwife was absent from the room during active labor, and the infant was delivered by emergency C-section but suffered severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and died one week later.

System
Emory Healthcare
Facility
Emory Decatur Hospital
Providers involved
Emory Decatur Hospital / The Southeast Permanente Medical Group, Inc. / Certified nurse midwife
Pattern
Alleged failure to respond to fetal distress and meconium-stained fluid during high-risk labor induction
Harm
Alleged hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, irreversible brain damage, and newborn death one week after delivery

Overview

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that Emory Decatur Hospital providers failed to timely respond to fetal distress during a high-risk labor induction and delayed emergency delivery.

Chronology

  1. According to the complaint, the mother was admitted to Emory Decatur Hospital on July 23, 2024 for labor induction due to preeclampsia at 40 weeks gestation.
  2. According to the complaint, labor-induction medications were administered and records allegedly noted that the infant was large and improperly positioned for delivery.
  3. The complaint alleges that staff artificially ruptured the amniotic sac on July 25, 2024 and observed meconium-stained fluid.
  4. According to the complaint, the midwife left the room during active pushing on July 26, 2024 while the mother was fully dilated.
  5. The complaint alleges that a nurse observed rapid fetal heart-rate decelerations and that the midwife returned after the fetal heartbeat was lost.
  6. According to the complaint, an emergency code was called after an alleged delay spent attempting to use a fetal scalp electrode.
  7. The complaint alleges that the infant was delivered by emergency C-section, required immediate resuscitation, suffered irreversible brain damage, and died on August 1, 2024.

Alleged failures

  • The complaint alleges that providers failed to continuously monitor the infant for fetal distress during a high-risk labor induction.
  • The complaint alleges that providers failed to perform a C-section when meconium was first detected.
  • The complaint alleges that the midwife deviated from the standard of care by leaving the room during active pushing.
  • The complaint alleges that there was an unacceptable delay between the loss of fetal heartbeat and the emergency-delivery call.
  • The complaint alleges that the attending physician was unaware of critical clinical signs until after delivery.

Entities and tags

Emory Decatur HospitalThe Southeast Permanente Medical Group, Inc.PreeclampsiaMeconium-stained amniotic fluidEmergency C-sectionHypoxic ischemic encephalopathyFetal heart-rate decelerationsFetal scalp electrodeFailure to monitorDelayed emergency C-sectionFetal distressMeconium aspiration allegationWrongful deathObstetricsLabor and deliveryNeonatologyMidwifery

Questions this example answers

What does the Emory Decatur fetal distress complaint allege?

The complaint alleges that a high-risk labor induction at Emory Decatur Hospital involved preeclampsia, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, fetal heart-rate decelerations, and later loss of fetal heartbeat. According to the complaint, staff delayed calling for emergency assistance after the fetal heartbeat was lost, the attending midwife was absent from the room during active labor, and the infant was delivered by emergency C-section but suffered severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and died one week later.

Who is identified in this public case example?

This public case example identifies Emory Decatur Hospital, The Southeast Permanente Medical Group, Inc., and Certified nurse midwife. It also tags the source-supported entities Emory Decatur Hospital, The Southeast Permanente Medical Group, Inc., Preeclampsia, Meconium-stained amniotic fluid, and Emergency C-section.

What alleged failures are summarized here?

The complaint alleges that providers failed to continuously monitor the infant for fetal distress during a high-risk labor induction. The complaint alleges that providers failed to perform a C-section when meconium was first detected. The complaint alleges that the midwife deviated from the standard of care by leaving the room during active pushing.