Jefferson County (Tex) District Court
A 23-year-old pregnant woman went to the hospital and was discharged without a physician examination, despite vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, absence of fetal movement, a nonreactive stress test, and absence of fetal response on acoustic stimulation. Her fetus died several days later.
The woman faulted 2 physicians for not examining her despite signs of placental abruption, and claimed the nurse failed to recognize and report subtle late decelerations in the fetal monitor strip.
The defendants denied negligence and maintained that the fetal heart strip showed movement.
- The parties reached a confidential settlement.