A Connecticut woman lost her baby due to a series of delays in carrying out an emergency cesarean section, as alleged in a lawsuit filed against multiple parties.
The wrongful-death lawsuit, lodged in Superior Court in Litchfield, implicates , the owner of Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington; Litchfield County OB/GYN, also identified as in Litchfield County; Dr. Corey Teagarden and Dr. Carol Papov from that practice; and Dr. Neal Mandell, a radiologist associated with .
The lawsuit asserts that the baby’s life could have been preserved if medical professionals had acted promptly and communicated effectively.
On December 18, 2021, at 5:49 a.m., the woman, 28 weeks pregnant, presented at Charlotte Hungerford’s Emergency Department with symptoms including abdominal discomfort, vaginal bleeding, and severely high blood pressure (159 over 120). She was admitted to the Labor and Delivery Department.
By 6:24 a.m., although the woman’s blood pressure had decreased, the fetus’s heart rate had escalated from the 120s to the 130s. Subsequently, at 7:47 a.m., the woman reported experiencing abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Teagarden ordered an ultrasound at 8:03 a.m. and then transferred the woman’s care to Papov without adequately briefing Papov on the patient’s critical condition, alleges the lawsuit.
During this period, the woman repeatedly expressed intense pain and distress, indicating a sense of her abdomen being torn apart, as per the complaint.
The initial ultrasound revealed the fetus’s heart rate at 128 beats per minute, which later dropped into the 90s and continued to decline, consistent with a potential placental abruption.
Despite worsening abdominal pain, there were delays in taking necessary actions. The woman was eventually returned to labor and delivery at 8:39 a.m., almost three hours after her arrival at the hospital, where Mandell informed Papov of the ultrasound findings and the fetus’s deteriorating heartbeat.
Following further assessments, a decision was made to proceed with a possible emergency cesarean section. Unfortunately, at 9:01 a.m., the ultrasound conducted by Mandell indicated no fetal heart tones, and subsequent confirmations revealed the fetus had passed away.
The lawsuit highlights significant delays in summoning Mandell to the operating room, with a 20-minute lag before his arrival confirming the fetal demise.
Despite being informed that the probable cause of death was placental abruption, the lawsuit disputes this claim, stating that with timely intervention, the baby had a high chance of survival at 28 weeks gestation.
The pathology report later confirmed the presence of placental abruption, supporting the lawsuit’s contentions regarding the medical negligence exhibited.
The lawsuit alleges that the medical team should have recognized the urgency of the situation, refrained from transferring the patient for additional tests, and promptly performed the emergency cesarean section.
In addition to medical malpractice and wrongful death, the lawsuit includes claims of negligent infliction of emotional distress and “loss of chance” on behalf of the couple’s daughter.
A statement from Tina Varona, a spokesperson for Hartford HealthCare, expressed condolences to the family and refrained from commenting on the ongoing legal proceedings.
The plaintiffs are being represented by Michael Conroy from Simsbury.