Charleston County (SC) Circuit Court
A gravida was involved in a minor auto accident at 32 weeks’ gestation. She was admitted to a hospital’s labor and delivery unit 30 hours after the accident. The fetal monitor showed normal variability and a fetal heart strip was reactive. The patient was discharged after an overnight stay. Five days later, the woman prematurely delivered a stillborn.
In suing, the woman argued that additional testing should have been performed during her hospital stay. The physician maintained that the infant died just prior to delivery because the umbilical cord was wrapped around its neck.
- The jury returned a verdict for the defense.