Managing Your Practice

Tompkins County (Ny) Supreme Court—A woman presented to an internist with transient right-sided abdominal pain that propoxyphene did not alleviate. A CAT scan and sonogram showed a right adnexal mass.

The internist referred the patient to a gynecologist, who could not assess rebound pain because her abdomen was too tender. Since the woman was in extreme pain, he also could not perform a pelvic exam. He admitted her to the hospital with a prescription for intravenous meperidine. When the pain persisted, the clinician performed a laparoscopy and found adhesions between the ovary and abdominal wall. After lysing them, he diagnosed endometriosis and removed the ovary. Although the patient’s right-sided pain was alleviated, she suffered left-sided pain postoperatively. A pain management doctor diagnosed an entrapped nerve, and the woman underwent 2 surgeries to lessen the pain.

The plaintiff claimed the gynecologist performed the laparoscopy prematurely.

The patient sued the gynecologist, contending that she still suffered abdominal pain and that the gynecologist prematurely performed the laparoscopy. She also stated that he entrapped the left branch of the inguinal nerve when he closed the trocar incision. The physician argued the surgery was performed according to the standard of care.

The jury returned a defense verdict.

The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.

Tompkins County (Ny) Supreme Court—A woman presented to an internist with transient right-sided abdominal pain that propoxyphene did not alleviate. A CAT scan and sonogram showed a right adnexal mass.

The internist referred the patient to a gynecologist, who could not assess rebound pain because her abdomen was too tender. Since the woman was in extreme pain, he also could not perform a pelvic exam. He admitted her to the hospital with a prescription for intravenous meperidine. When the pain persisted, the clinician performed a laparoscopy and found adhesions between the ovary and abdominal wall. After lysing them, he diagnosed endometriosis and removed the ovary. Although the patient’s right-sided pain was alleviated, she suffered left-sided pain postoperatively. A pain management doctor diagnosed an entrapped nerve, and the woman underwent 2 surgeries to lessen the pain.

The plaintiff claimed the gynecologist performed the laparoscopy prematurely.

The patient sued the gynecologist, contending that she still suffered abdominal pain and that the gynecologist prematurely performed the laparoscopy. She also stated that he entrapped the left branch of the inguinal nerve when he closed the trocar incision. The physician argued the surgery was performed according to the standard of care.

The jury returned a defense verdict.

The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.

Tompkins County (Ny) Supreme Court—A woman presented to an internist with transient right-sided abdominal pain that propoxyphene did not alleviate. A CAT scan and sonogram showed a right adnexal mass.

The internist referred the patient to a gynecologist, who could not assess rebound pain because her abdomen was too tender. Since the woman was in extreme pain, he also could not perform a pelvic exam. He admitted her to the hospital with a prescription for intravenous meperidine. When the pain persisted, the clinician performed a laparoscopy and found adhesions between the ovary and abdominal wall. After lysing them, he diagnosed endometriosis and removed the ovary. Although the patient’s right-sided pain was alleviated, she suffered left-sided pain postoperatively. A pain management doctor diagnosed an entrapped nerve, and the woman underwent 2 surgeries to lessen the pain.

The plaintiff claimed the gynecologist performed the laparoscopy prematurely.

The patient sued the gynecologist, contending that she still suffered abdominal pain and that the gynecologist prematurely performed the laparoscopy. She also stated that he entrapped the left branch of the inguinal nerve when he closed the trocar incision. The physician argued the surgery was performed according to the standard of care.

The jury returned a defense verdict.

The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.

Baltimore County (Md) Circuit Court—At 42 weeks’ gestation, a gravida presented to the hospital for induction of labor. After the infant was delivered vaginally, he required resuscitation. Due to a prolonged lack of oxygen, the baby suffered brain damage, resulting in motor deficits, severe speech and language delays, and an approximate IQ of 60.

The mother sued, arguing cesarean delivery is the standard of care for a postdates pregnancy and the fetal heart-rate monitor demonstrated late decelerations, which required an immediate cesarean. The obstetrician contended he followed the standard of care and that no circumstances during the patient’s labor and delivery warranted an emergent cesarean section.

The jury awarded the plaintiff $2 million.

The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.

Baltimore County (Md) Circuit Court—At 42 weeks’ gestation, a gravida presented to the hospital for induction of labor. After the infant was delivered vaginally, he required resuscitation. Due to a prolonged lack of oxygen, the baby suffered brain damage, resulting in motor deficits, severe speech and language delays, and an approximate IQ of 60.

The mother sued, arguing cesarean delivery is the standard of care for a postdates pregnancy and the fetal heart-rate monitor demonstrated late decelerations, which required an immediate cesarean. The obstetrician contended he followed the standard of care and that no circumstances during the patient’s labor and delivery warranted an emergent cesarean section.

The jury awarded the plaintiff $2 million.

The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.

Baltimore County (Md) Circuit Court—At 42 weeks’ gestation, a gravida presented to the hospital for induction of labor. After the infant was delivered vaginally, he required resuscitation. Due to a prolonged lack of oxygen, the baby suffered brain damage, resulting in motor deficits, severe speech and language delays, and an approximate IQ of 60.

The mother sued, arguing cesarean delivery is the standard of care for a postdates pregnancy and the fetal heart-rate monitor demonstrated late decelerations, which required an immediate cesarean. The obstetrician contended he followed the standard of care and that no circumstances during the patient’s labor and delivery warranted an emergent cesarean section.

The jury awarded the plaintiff $2 million.

The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.