Northside Hospital complaint alleges no continuous fetal monitoring before a twin’s death and her sister’s brain injury
The complaint alleges that Northside Hospital and two physician practices did not take proper precautions against preterm labor in a high-risk twin pregnancy. A physician ordered a transvaginal ultrasound in September 2015 without checking the mother’s cervix, and her membranes ruptured during the exam. No continuous fetal monitoring was performed afterward, and physicians later ordered an immediate cesarean for suspected placental abruption without a vaginal or cervical exam. The twins were delivered by cesarean later that day, and pathology showed findings consistent with a partial abruption. It also showed acute chorioamnionitis and acute funisitis in one twin’s cord. One twin died about a month later, and her sister has a permanent brain injury.
Overview
This page concerns a complaint alleging that a Northside Hospital ultrasound and no continuous fetal monitoring preceded an emergency cesarean and a newborn twin’s death.
Chronology
The complaint alleges as follows:
- The mother’s high-risk twin pregnancy was referred to Atlanta Perinatal Consultants at 12 weeks, and ultrasounds through 24 weeks showed normal fetal development.
- At 24 weeks, in September 2015, she was admitted to Northside Hospital for observation for preterm-labor concerns, and Terbutaline stopped irregular contractions.
- Three days later, at 2:42 p.m., Dr. Ransom ordered a transvaginal ultrasound without checking the cervix, and her membranes ruptured during it.
- No electronic fetal monitoring was performed after the rupture, though Dr. Ransom checked fetal heart tones by doppler at 4:15 p.m. The doppler gave no information about variability.
- At about 5:00 p.m. the mother noticed a small amount of blood on tissue. By 5:20 p.m. three physicians decided on an immediate cesarean for suspected placental abruption.
- The twins were delivered by cesarean at 6:17 and 6:18 p.m. in September 2015, and both needed ventilators in the NICU.
- The surviving twin weighed 0.510 kg and had Apgar scores of 5 and 8; her sister weighed 0.586 kg and scored 3, 5, and 8.
Alleged failures
The complaint alleges the following failures:
- Dr. Ransom ordered the transvaginal ultrasound without first checking the mother’s cervix or assessing whether the procedure was safe.
- Dr. Ransom and the other physicians did not conduct continuous electronic fetal monitoring after the mother’s membranes ruptured.
- The ultrasound technician performed the exam roughly and did not exercise the care required given the risk of preterm labor.
- The physicians ordered an immediate cesarean for suspected placental abruption without a vaginal exam, a cervical exam, or fetal monitoring.
- Northside Hospital, Atlanta Perinatal Consultants, and Georgia Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates did not adequately hire, train, or supervise the staff who treated the mother.
- The complaint pleads professional and ordinary negligence, gross negligence, vicarious liability, and direct institutional liability, with an estate claim. It attaches an expert affidavit under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-9.1.