Northside Hospital Atlanta complaint alleges fetal monitoring was stopped despite an abnormal tracing before stillbirth
The complaint alleges that an obstetrician and nurses did not respond appropriately to signs the baby might be receiving reduced oxygen. In February 2023, during expectant management of premature rupture of membranes, the fetal heart tracing showed minimal variability and repeated decelerations. The physician ordered fluids, repositioning, and continuous monitoring. Around midday he ordered the monitoring stopped, describing the tracing as “normal and category 1.” That afternoon the patient reported decreased fetal movement, and a nurse restarting the monitor traced only her own heartbeat. An ultrasound minutes later found no fetal heartbeat, and the baby was stillborn early the next morning.
Overview
This page concerns a public complaint alleging that an obstetrician and nurses did not respond appropriately to an abnormal fetal heart tracing before a stillbirth.
Chronology
The complaint alleges as follows:
- The patient, who already had a cervical cerclage, was admitted at 26 weeks after her membranes ruptured early. The plan was twice-daily fetal heart monitoring until 34 weeks.
- One morning in February 2023 the fetal heart tracing showed minimal variability, no accelerations, and multiple variable and prolonged decelerations.
- A nurse repositioned the patient several times, and Dr. Lewis reviewed the strip and ordered fluids and continuous monitoring.
- Candace McNair, N.P.’s rounding note that morning called the strip “Cat I” and did not mention the minimal variability or decelerations.
- Around midday Dr. Lewis ordered fetal monitoring stopped, describing the strip as a normal “Category I” tracing.
- That afternoon the patient reported decreased fetal movement, and when a nurse restarted monitoring it traced only her own heart rate. The nurse did not realize this for nineteen minutes.
- An ultrasound found no fetal heartbeat, and the baby was stillborn early the next morning.
Alleged failures
The complaint alleges the following failures:
- Dr. Lewis and the nurses did not recognize the tracing’s minimal variability and prolonged decelerations as signs the baby might be receiving reduced oxygen.
- They did not maintain continuous monitoring or order added interventions to improve the baby’s oxygen supply.
- The nurses did not advocate for Dr. Lewis to come to the bedside or use the chain of command to get another physician.
- Dr. Lewis and the nurses did not ensure timely cesarean delivery of the baby before she died.
- The complaint pleads wrongful death based on professional, ordinary, and gross negligence, plus vicarious liability and negligent hiring, training, and supervision. It attaches an expert affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-9.1.