The plaintiff was 35 weeks pregnant when she was admitted to the hospital for an infection. She was also experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). She was immediately put on a continuous heart rate monitor as was the baby. After the infection was treated, the plaintiff’s DKA resolved. In contrast, the baby’s status, as evidenced by fetal heart rate monitoring, was deteriorating. The nursing staff documented ongoing
intermittent and recurring late decelerations on the baby’s heart rate monitor for several hours.
Eventually, the Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist ordered that the continuous fetal monitoring be stopped. From that moment on, no one was monitoring the baby. The MFM specialist made no attempt to speak with the patient or a responsible decisionmaker about discontinuing the fetal monitoring.
The next check of the baby’s heart rate was not until several hours later. The nurse was unable to find fetal heart tones and the fetal death was confirmed.
Comments