Georgia medical malpractice allegations

Georgia Medical Malpractice Allegations Involving Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Public Georgia complaint examples involving Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and pediatric care settings include allegations about emergency evaluation, discharge decisions, transplant verification, and delayed escalation.

Overview

The summaries below describe pediatric medical-malpractice allegations from public filings involving Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, CHOA, or related care settings. They are presented as allegations only, with links to the full case summaries for readers who want the more detailed discussion.

At a glance: 21 case summaries from public Georgia complaints. Care settings named most often: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (2); Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite (2); Hughes Spalding Hospital (2).

Related case summaries

Full case summaries

Read the linked case summary for the fuller allegations-only discussion.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta complaint alleges identical-twin stem cell transplant without genetic confirmation

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and two physicians proceeded with a pediatric stem cell transplant represented as allogeneic without first confirming whether the twin sibling donor was genetically identical to the recipient.

Provider grouping: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Arthur M. Blank Hospital
Providers involved: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta / Alan Bidgoli, MD / Diana M. Fridlyand, MD / Transplant team
Alleged pattern: Allogeneic stem cell transplant using twin sibling donor allegedly performed before confirming whether the twins were genetically identical
Claimed harm: loss of intended allogeneic transplant benefit and increased recurrence risk

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaDocumentation failuresPediatric oncologyRead the case summary

CHOA complaint alleges child discharged despite worsening bowel-obstruction symptoms

This page concerns a pediatric emergency case at CHOA in which a physician recognized a substantial stool obstruction, unsuccessful bedside treatment did not relieve it, the child nevertheless was discharged despite worsening signs, and she returned in critical condition before dying after emergency surgery.

Provider grouping: Children’s Hospital of Atlanta
Care setting: CHOA emergency department
Providers involved: CHOA emergency department / Dr. Michael Greenwald / Nurse Gabriel Ribeiro
Alleged pattern: Substantial bowel obstruction followed by discharge home despite worsening symptoms and failed bedside treatment
Claimed harm: Wrongful death

Children’s Hospital of AtlantaPremature dischargePediatric emergency medicineRead the case summary

CHOA-Hughes Spalding complaint alleges repeated discharges before a child’s pneumonia death

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that a pediatric patient died after repeated emergency-room and pediatric-office encounters in which providers allegedly failed to perform diagnostic testing or admit the child despite abnormal vital signs.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare / Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: CHOA-Hughes Spalding Emergency Room
Providers involved: Emory Healthcare Inc. / Emory University / The Emory Clinic, Inc. / Children’s Hospital Atlanta / CHOA-Hughes Spalding Emergency Room / Jennifer M. Collier-Madon, M.D. / Mark A. Griffiths, M.D. / Kaley L. French, M.D. / Anjali S. Chaudhari, M.D. / Rajani Chaudhari, M.D. / Rajani Chaudhari MD/PC
Alleged pattern: Alleged repeated pediatric emergency and office discharges without pneumonia workup or admission
Claimed harm: death from extensive advanced pneumonia, pleuritis, and empyema

Emory Healthcare / Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaDelayed or missed diagnosisPediatricsRead the case summary

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston complaint alleges delayed recognition of need for neurosurgery

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, pediatric neurosurgery providers, and related entities failed to recognize the need for urgent surgical intervention after headache presentations and CT imaging.

Provider grouping: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston
Providers involved: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. / Pediatric Neurosurgery Associates at Children’s, LLC / Emory University, Inc. / David Michael Wrubel, M.D. / Joshua Jiachuh Chern, M.D. / Reem Amer Dawoud, M.D. / Fadi Paul Jacob, M.D.
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to recognize need for urgent neurosurgical intervention after headache presentations
Claimed harm: spinal stroke, brain injury, permanent disability, inability to walk, and ongoing medical expenses

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaDelayed or missed diagnosisPediatric neurosurgeryRead the case summary

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding complaint alleges improper discharge before fatal epiglottitis

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that providers at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding improperly discharged a pediatric patient with abnormal vital signs and respiratory symptoms before the patient died from acute epiglottitis and pneumonia.

Provider grouping: Emory University / Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding
Providers involved: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding / Alesia Fleming, M.D. / Jenna Gorbatkin, M.D. / Emory + Children’s Pediatric Institute, Inc. / Emory University
Alleged pattern: Alleged discharge of a pediatric patient with abnormal vital signs and respiratory symptoms
Claimed harm: death from acute epiglottitis and pneumonia two days after emergency-department discharge

Emory University / Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaDelayed or missed diagnosisEmergency medicineRead the case summary

Emory University Hospital Midtown complaint alleges failures to act on a newborn’s rising bilirubin before kernicterus

This page concerns a complaint alleging that providers at three facilities did not properly diagnose and treat a newborn’s rising bilirubin before it caused kernicterus.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory University Hospital Midtown
Providers involved: David Carlton, M.D. / Tonya R. Selfridge, NNP / Nicola Chin, M.D. / Justine Mrosak, M.D. / David Bakken, M.D. / Keiko Tarquino, M.D. / Christin Carroll, M.D. / Emory Healthcare, Inc. d/b/a Emory University Hospital Midtown / Morehouse Healthcare, Inc. d/b/a Morehouse Healthcare Howell Mill / Scottish Rite Children’s Medical Center Inc. d/b/a Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite / Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. / Pediatric Emergency Medicine Associates, LLC
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to monitor and treat a newborn’s rising bilirubin level across a hospital, a pediatric clinic, and a children’s hospital
Claimed harm: kernicterus with hearing loss, developmental delay, and cerebral palsy

Emory HealthcareFailure to monitorNeonatologyRead the case summary

Wellstar Douglas Hospital complaint alleges delayed delivery amid fetal heart concerns before a newborn’s brain injury

This page concerns a complaint alleging that Wellstar Douglas Hospital providers did not properly assess and respond to a nonreassuring fetal heart rate. It alleges this delayed delivery. A transport team then allegedly rewarmed the newborn instead of keeping him cooled during his transfer.

Provider grouping: Wellstar Health System, Inc.
Care setting: Wellstar Douglas Hospital
Providers involved: Kendy Verpile, M.D. / Center for Women’s Health and Aesthetics LLC / Kristine Marie Raynard, CNM / Natalie Ronnette Brathwaite, M.D. / Wellstar Medical Group, LLC d/b/a Wellstar North Douglas OB/GYN / Douglas Hospital, Inc. d/b/a Wellstar Douglas Hospital / Wellstar Health System, Inc. / Egleston Children’s Hospital at Emory University, Inc. d/b/a CHOA Egleston Children’s Hospital
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to respond to a nonreassuring fetal heart rate during a Pitocin-augmented induction, delaying delivery
Claimed harm: hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy after resuscitation at birth and rewarming during a transfer for cooling

Wellstar Health System, Inc.Birth injuryObstetricsRead the case summary

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta complaint alleges splint and cast pressure injury before debridement

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that hospital and clinic staff caused and then worsened a pressure injury while treating an infant’s leg fracture.

Provider grouping: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Hughes Spalding Hospital and Egleston Hospital
Providers involved: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. d/b/a Hughes Spalding Hospital / Kimberly Willis, RN / Bruce Chien, MD / The Emory Clinic, Inc. / Emory Healthcare, Inc. / Emory University / Joshua Myers, NP / Nicholas Fletcher, MD / Children’s Physician Group Specialty Providers, LLC
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to recognize and protect against a splint- and cast-caused pressure injury on an infant’s foot
Claimed harm: skin necrosis, exposed tendon, and a stage 3 wound requiring surgical debridement

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaPressure ulcersEmergency medicineRead the case summary

Northeast Georgia Gainesville amended complaint alleges delayed antibiotics before an unstable transfer and meningitis

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that an infant flagged as septic received no antibiotics before an unstable transfer between hospitals.

Provider grouping: Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Inc.
Care setting: Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville
Providers involved: Michael Lee Patterson, MD / Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. / Sidhant Nagrani, MD / Georgia Emergency Department Services, Inc. / Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Inc. / Vivian Ruth Barbara-Stark, MD / Pediatric Emergency Medicine Associates, LLC
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to give antibiotics to an infant flagged as septic before an unstable transfer between hospitals
Claimed harm: bacterial meningitis, strokes, and permanent disability

Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Inc.Delayed or missed diagnosisPediatricsRead the case summary

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite complaint alleges appendicitis missed before perforation

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that an emergency physician discharged a child with suspected appendicitis without ordering imaging or blood work.

Provider grouping: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite
Providers involved: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. d/b/a Scottish Rite Hospital / Martin G. Belson, M.D. / Pediatric Emergency Medicine Associates, LLC
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to order imaging, blood work, or antibiotics for a child referred emergently for suspected appendicitis
Claimed harm: perforated gangrenous appendicitis with peritonitis in a child

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaDelayed or missed diagnosisEmergency medicineRead the case summary

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta complaint alleges delayed spinal-tumor imaging before permanent nerve damage

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that a pediatric neurologist did not order timely spine imaging, delaying diagnosis of a spinal tumor.

Provider grouping: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Providers involved: Sumit Verma, M.D. / Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. / Children’s Physician Group Specialty Providers, LLC / Children’s Physician Group Inc.
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to order timely spine imaging for worsening leg and back pain in a pediatric neurology patient
Claimed harm: delayed diagnosis of a spinal tumor causing permanent nerve damage and spinal deformity

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaDelayed or missed diagnosisPediatric neurologyRead the case summary

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta complaint alleges missed signs of cerebral venous thrombosis before a teen’s death

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that oncology providers missed a teenager’s warning signs of a chemotherapy-linked cerebral venous thrombosis before his death.

Provider grouping: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Egleston Children’s Hospital
Providers involved: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. / Egleston Children’s Hospital at Emory University, Inc. / Children’s Physician Group Specialty Providers, LLC / Emory University / The Emory Clinic, Inc. / Emory Pediatrics, LLC / Egleston Pediatric Group, Inc. / Sharon Castellino, M.D. / Frank G Keller, Jr., M.D. / Kathleen Stone, NP
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to recognize signs of cerebral venous thrombosis in a chemotherapy patient with persistent headaches
Claimed harm: wrongful death from an undiagnosed cerebral venous thrombosis

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaDelayed or missed diagnosisPediatric oncologyRead the case summary

CHOA Scottish Rite complaint alleges ED sepsis-workup failures before a 17-year-old patient’s death

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that an emergency-department physician and hospital staff did not properly work up a worsening bacterial infection. It alleges they discharged a feverish, tachycardic teenager who died hours later.

Provider grouping: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Scottish Rite Hospital
Providers involved: Thomas J. Abramo, M.D. / Pediatric Emergency Medicine Associates, LLC / Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc.
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to work up a bacterial infection and reconsider a rhinovirus diagnosis in a feverish, tachycardic, hypotensive patient before emergency-department discharge
Claimed harm: undiagnosed bacterial infection, sepsis, and death

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaDelayed or missed diagnosisPediatric emergency medicineRead the case summary

Scottish Rite complaint alleges post-operative hypotension was not timely treated after scoliosis surgery before quadriplegia

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that hospital staff and physicians did not treat significant hypotension quickly enough after a teenager’s scoliosis surgery.

Provider grouping: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Scottish Rite Children’s Medical Center
Providers involved: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. / Scottish Rite Children’s Medical Center, Inc. / Children’s Physician Group Specialty Providers, LLC / Neonatology Associates of Atlanta, PC / Pediatrix Medical Group of Georgia, PC / Mednax Services, Inc. / Otobong I. Udoudoh, NP / Lindsay Sikora, M.D. / Jorge A. Fabregas, M.D. / Joshua J. Chern, M.D.
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to promptly treat post-operative hypotension after elective scoliosis surgery
Claimed harm: permanent paralysis of the arms and legs from a spinal cord injury

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaDelayed or missed diagnosisOrthopedic surgeryRead the case summary

Egleston Hospital complaint alleges a hot plaster splint burned a child’s leg after surgery, requiring a skin graft

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that hospital staff and the surgeon burned a pediatric patient’s leg while applying a post-surgical splint. A skin graft followed.

Provider grouping: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Egleston Hospital
Providers involved: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. d/b/a Egleston Hospital / Elmer Dunn / Deanna Mahaley, RN / Albert Pendleton, MD / Pediatric Orthopaedic Associates, P.C.
Alleged pattern: Alleged use of dangerously hot water and plaster, with inadequate padding, while applying a post-surgical splint to a child’s leg
Claimed harm: third-degree burn requiring a skin graft and permanent scarring

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaBurn injuryOrthopedic surgeryRead the case summary

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite complaint alleges a family got no neutropenia information before fatal sepsis

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that a hospital’s hematology-oncology team did not disclose a severe neutropenia diagnosis before a patient died of sepsis.

Provider grouping: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite
Providers involved: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. / Scottish Rite Children’s Medical Center, Inc. / Children’s Physician Group Specialty Providers, LLC / Melinda Pauly, M.D.
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to clearly explain a severe neutropenia diagnosis and direct urgent evaluation when fever and vomiting developed
Claimed harm: sepsis, cardiac arrest, and death of a 14-year-old patient

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaCommunication or follow-up failureHematology-oncologyRead the case summary

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta complaint alleges a retraction let a tumor occlude a child’s airway before his death

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that a surgical team’s breathing-tube retraction let a tumor occlude a child’s airway during surgery before his death.

Provider grouping: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Providers involved: Jonathan A. Meisel, M.D. / Christopher S. Fiedorek, M.D. / Emory + Children’s Pediatric Institute, Inc. / Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc.
Alleged pattern: Alleged endotracheal-tube retraction during tumor-removal surgery that let a dislodged tumor occlude the airway
Claimed harm: prolonged loss of oxygen and death days after surgery

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaSurgical errorPediatric surgeryRead the case summary

CHOA Egleston complaint alleges delayed pressure-wound care and infection misdiagnosis before chronic mastoiditis

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that a children’s hospital did not timely treat pressure wounds caused by EEG monitoring electrodes. It alleges staff then misdiagnosed the resulting infections in a severely disabled child.

Provider grouping: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Egleston
Providers involved: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. / Emily Kern-Smith, M.D. / Kiran B. Hebbar, M.D. / Keiko M. Tarquinio, M.D. / Atul Vats, M.D. / Emilee C. Flynn, M.D. / Patricia T. Perlow, R.N. / Lisa F. Baldwin, R.N. / Madelyn H. McGuire, R.N.
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to timely treat pressure wounds from EEG monitoring electrodes and misdiagnosis of the resulting infections as viral
Claimed harm: chronic bacterial infections, mastoiditis, alopecia, and scarring in a severely disabled child

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaPressure ulcersPediatric critical careRead the case summary

CHOA Scottish Rite amended complaint alleges improperly maintained surgical drill overheated before a facial burn

This page concerns a public amended complaint alleging that an improperly maintained surgical drill overheated and burned a patient during oral surgery.

Provider grouping: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc.
Care setting: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta - Scottish Rite
Providers involved: Dr. Glenn Maron / Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc.
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to inspect and maintain a surgical drill before an oral surgery
Claimed harm: third-degree burn and permanent facial disfigurement from an overheating surgical instrument

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc.Equipment failureOral and Maxillofacial SurgeryRead the case summary

Hughes Spalding Hospital complaint alleges failure to relay a normal x-ray before a splint pressure sore

This page concerns a public complaint alleging a physician did not personally tell parents their child’s x-ray was normal or to remove his splint.

Provider grouping: Hughes Spalding Hospital
Care setting: Hughes Spalding Hospital
Providers involved: Bolanle Tokunbo Akinsola, M.D. / Emory + Children’s Pediatric Institute, Inc. / Pediatric Emergency Medicine Associates, LLC / Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation / Emory Healthcare, Inc. / Emory University / Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc.
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to notify parents that a splinted child’s x-ray was normal and to have the splint removed
Claimed harm: pressure sore and blister from a splint left on for two extra days

Hughes Spalding HospitalCommunication or follow-up failurePediatric emergency medicineRead the case summary

Hughes Spalding Hospital amended complaint alleges a missed urinalysis before a child’s death from diabetic ketoacidosis

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that a Hughes Spalding physician did not perform an ordered urinalysis before a child’s death from diabetic ketoacidosis.

Provider grouping: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Hughes Spalding Hospital
Providers involved: Karen F. Colton, MD / Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. / Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation / Emory Healthcare, Inc. / Emory University
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to perform an ordered urinalysis before discharging a vomiting child
Claimed harm: undiagnosed diabetic ketoacidosis and death

Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaDelayed or missed diagnosisPediatricsRead the case summary

Related allegation types

Pediatric emergency / discharge8 case summaries Emergency-room discharge / failure to admit6 case summaries Sepsis / infection delay4 case summaries Airway / respiratory failure3 case summaries Pressure ulcers / wound care3 case summaries Radiology / imaging follow-up3 case summaries Bowel obstruction / abdominal emergency2 case summaries Delayed stroke diagnosis2 case summaries Birth injury / OB emergency delay1 case summary Informed consent / wrong procedure1 case summary Orthopedic / spine surgical complication1 case summary Surgical complication delay1 case summary

Other Georgia health systems

Allegations involving other health systems

Emory Healthcare35 case summaries Wellstar27 case summaries Piedmont9 case summaries Northside Hospital19 case summaries Grady10 case summaries