The case involved a newborn who suffered severe hypoxic-ischemic injury during labor due to relentless uterine contractions of unknown origin. The extent of the injury ultimately led to the withdrawal of life support. Through the course of discovery and investigation, it was revealed that the treating obstetrician had engaged in a pattern of unauthorized and dangerous medical conduct.
Specifically, the physician scheduled patients’ final prenatal visits late in the week and, without the patients’ knowledge or consent, inserted Cytotec (misoprostol) vaginally during routine pelvic exams. This practice was intended to induce labor on the same day, allowing the physician to attend deliveries during regular hours and avoid being called in after hours or on weekends.
Working cooperatively with the hospital, the legal team uncovered evidence confirming the physician’s misconduct. A labor and delivery nurse provided testimony indicating she had observed a concerning pattern of precipitous labors among the physician’s patients. Another nurse discovered a partially dissolved Cytotec tablet during an examination of a patient who had presented with unexplained, rapid-onset labor.
Based on these depositions and the broader findings of the joint investigation, a settlement was secured against both the hospital and the physician.