Medical Verdicts

Was fundal pressure ordered for dystocia?

OBG Manag. 2004 October;16(10):94-100
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New York County (NY) Supreme Court

During vaginal delivery on a 32-year-old woman, shoulder dystocia was encountered. The child was born with Erb’s palsy.

The mother claimed the Ob/Gyn ordered a nurse to apply fundal pressure, which is contraindicated with dystocia.

The physician argued that she twice applied necessary and appropriate gentle downward pressure to dislodge the shoulder.

  • The jury awarded the plaintiff $3.2 million.
The cases in this column are selected by the editors of OBG Management from Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts, with permission of the editor, Lewis Laska, of Nashville, Tenn (www.verdictslaska.com). While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.

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