<\/p>\n
Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno photographed on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022.<\/p>\n
CRAIG KOHLRUSS<\/p>\n
ckohlruss@fresnobee.com<\/p>\n
A newborn baby was injured during delivery at Saint Agnes Medical Center due to alleged negligence from the doctor and care team \u2014 and the mother says she received a rushed hysterectomy in lieu of proper postpartum care, according to a lawsuit filed against the Fresno hospital.<\/p>\n
According to the malpractice lawsuit filed last month, the mother \u2014 at 40 weeks and two days pregnant \u2014 was induced in July 2021.<\/p>\n
After being induced, the mother says she experienced continual contractions for about an hour and a half at a rate that prevented the fetus from getting enough oxygen. The lawsuit states that the mother should have been given treatments to help mitigate the contractions and, thus, the baby\u2019s oxygen deprivation \u2014 specifically Terbutaline or a lactated ringer bolus \u2014 though she says the fetal distress wasn\u2019t addressed in a timely manner.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, doctors performed a vacuum-assisted birth, though the doctor\u2019s delivery notes suggest the baby was too high in the birth canal at the time, according to the lawsuit.<\/p>\n
The child is the sole plaintiff in the lawsuit, which is seeking legal fees and general damages, as well as past, present, and future medical needs, and special damages \u2014 including attendant and life care needs. A paralegal for the Law Office of Richard Carroll, the firm representing the plaintiff, said the mother is not part of the case due to timing issues.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit states the mother should have been consented for an emergency caesarian section, though the doctor\u2019s delivery notes say a vacuum-assisted delivery would have been quicker at that point.<\/p>\n
According to the lawsuit, the baby was born with its umbilical cord wrapped twice around their neck \u2014 and the decision to perform a vacuum-assisted delivery exasperated the baby\u2019s fetal distress in ways that an emergency c-section would not have.<\/p>\n
Specifically, the lawsuit \u2014 which requests a jury trial \u2014 states the baby suffered a brain bleed during delivery.<\/p>\n
Immediately after the baby was born, he was diagnosed with conditions relating to low oxygen levels and high blood acidity, per the lawsuit. The newborn was transferred to Valley Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n
About 20 minutes postpartum, the lawsuit states the mother experienced excessive vaginal bleeding, which the doctor allegedly attributed to vaginal lacerations at first. However, the bleeding persisted, and the mother says \u2014 rather than her doctor performing a sterile sweep to help identify the source of postpartum hemorrhage \u2014 her uterus was removed.<\/p>\n
While in the NICU, the baby was diagnosed with bilateral scalp hematomas \u2014 indicative of birth trauma, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit notes how the baby\u2019s development over the next two and a half years was impacted, including hearing loss, difficulty walking and struggles with motor skills that require both physical and occupational therapy.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Saint Agnes Medical Center said the hospital was aware of the lawsuit and is reviewing the matter.<\/p>\n
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