Georgia malpractice type allegations

Georgia Birth Injury and Obstetrical Emergency Delay Allegations

Birth-injury and obstetrical-emergency complaints often involve fetal monitoring, emergency C-section timing, specialist consultation, prenatal diagnosis, or escalation when a pregnancy becomes high risk.

Overview

These case summaries involve public Georgia allegations about pregnancy, labor and delivery, fetal distress, delayed C-section, neonatal injury, pregnancy loss, or obstetrical emergency escalation. They remain complaint summaries only and should not be read as findings that any provider caused an injury.

At a glance: 18 case summaries from public Georgia complaints. Care settings named most often: Emory Decatur Hospital (3); Emory University Hospital Midtown (2); Northside Hospital (2); Wellstar North Fulton Hospital (2).

Related case summaries

Full case summaries

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

Wellstar Kennestone complaint alleges delayed MFM consultation and failure to offer cerclage during IVF pregnancy

This page concerns a public medical-malpractice complaint alleging delayed specialist consultation and failure to offer cervical cerclage or other interventions during a high-risk second-trimester IVF pregnancy at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

Provider grouping: Wellstar Health System
Care setting: Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
Providers involved: Wellstar Kennestone Hospital / Carey A. Dobbins, M.D. / Joseph Bryant, M.D. / Lawrence Nathan, M.D. / Wellstar Medical Group, LLC
Alleged pattern: High-risk IVF pregnancy with cervical incompetence allegedly followed by delayed MFM consultation and no cerclage offer
Claimed harm: pregnancy loss and post-operative complications including syncope, transfusion, and chest pain

Wellstar Health SystemDelayed treatmentObstetrics and gynecologyRead the case summary

Emory Decatur Hospital complaint alleges delayed emergency C-section after fetal distress

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that Emory Decatur Hospital providers failed to timely respond to fetal distress during a high-risk labor induction and delayed emergency delivery.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory Decatur Hospital
Providers involved: Emory Decatur Hospital / The Southeast Permanente Medical Group, Inc. / Certified nurse midwife
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to respond to fetal distress and meconium-stained fluid during high-risk labor induction
Claimed harm: hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, irreversible brain damage, and newborn death one week after delivery

Emory HealthcareFailure to monitorObstetricsRead the case summary

Northside Hospital complaint alleges C-section delay before newborn brain injury

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that labor-and-delivery providers at Northside Hospital delayed an emergency C-section after severe pre-eclampsia and non-reassuring fetal monitoring.

Provider grouping: Northside Hospital
Care setting: Northside Hospital
Providers involved: Northside Hospital, Inc. / John R. Conatser, M.D. / Taylor N. Plumer, M.D. / Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN, LLC / Northside Anesthesiology Consultants, L.L.C.
Alleged pattern: Alleged delay in emergency C-section after severe pre-eclampsia and non-reassuring fetal tracing
Claimed harm: hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and permanent brain injury

Northside HospitalBirth injuryObstetricsRead the case summary

Wellstar North Fulton complaint alleges fetal-hernia diagnosis and delivery-delay failures

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that prenatal and delivery providers failed to diagnose congenital diaphragmatic hernia and failed to timely deliver a child after signs of fetal distress.

Provider grouping: Wellstar Health System
Care setting: Wellstar North Fulton Hospital
Providers involved: Nile Women’s Healthcare / Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, Inc. / Katherine Cooke, CNM / Lynn Fisher, RN-CNM / Jigish Sheth, D.O. / Rachel A. Yakrus, M.D. / Hughan R. Frederick, M.D.
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to recognize congenital diaphragmatic hernia on prenatal imaging and delayed C-section despite fetal distress
Claimed harm: oxygen deprivation, permanent brain injury, and lung injury to a minor child

Wellstar Health SystemDelayed or missed diagnosisObstetricsRead the case summary

Piedmont Henry complaint alleges ovarian-torsion delay before ovary loss and fetal death

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that providers failed to diagnose and treat ovarian torsion in a pregnant patient with severe abdominal pain and known adnexal cysts.

Provider grouping: Piedmont Henry Hospital
Care setting: Piedmont Henry Hospital
Providers involved: Piedmont Henry Hospital, Inc. / Every Woman’s OB-GYN, LLC / Temitope Fapohunda, M.D. / Preyasi Kothari, M.D. / Reagan Burge, CNM / Kelli Kilpatrick, RN / Northside Hospital
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to investigate severe abdominal pain in pregnancy despite known adnexal cysts
Claimed harm: ovarian torsion, loss of the right ovary, and fetal death at 21 weeks

Piedmont Henry HospitalDelayed or missed diagnosisObstetricsRead the case summary

WellStar North Fulton complaint alleges Pitocin continued despite warning signs in TOLAC before newborn’s brain injury

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that nurses continued Pitocin during a TOLAC labor despite signs of fetal intolerance, before a newborn’s brain injury.

Provider grouping: WellStar North Fulton Hospital
Care setting: WellStar North Fulton Hospital
Providers involved: WellStar North Fulton Hospital, Inc. / Allison Perry Mitchell, C.N.M. / Nkechinyere Brodie, C.N.M. / Lynn Earman, C.N.M. / Isis Obstetrics & Gynecology, LLC, d/b/a Nile Women’s Healthcare / Providence Wellness Center, LLC, d/b/a Providence Women’s Healthcare / Shelley Dunson-Allen, P.C., d/b/a Providence Women’s Healthcare
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to stop Pitocin and escalate care despite signs of fetal intolerance to labor and possible uterine rupture during a TOLAC induction
Claimed harm: uterine rupture and neonatal encephalopathy and permanent brain injury to a newborn

WellStar North Fulton HospitalBirth injuryObstetricsRead the case summary

Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center amended complaint alleges delayed response to fetal distress before a newborn’s death

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that obstetric providers at Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center did not timely respond to a nonreassuring fetal heart tracing. The tracing arose during labor, before a newborn’s death.

Provider grouping: Wellstar Health System, Inc.
Care setting: Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center
Providers involved: Bradford Bootstaylor, M.D. / See Baby, LLC / Alphonzo Overstreet, Jr., M.D. / OBHG Georgia, Inc. / Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center, Inc. d/b/a Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center / Wellstar Health System, Inc. d/b/a Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center / Kwajalein Cleveland, C.N.M.
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to timely recognize and respond to a nonreassuring fetal heart tracing during labor
Claimed harm: hypoxic injury and a newborn’s death nine days after delivery

Wellstar Health System, Inc.Failure to monitorObstetricsRead the case summary

Wellstar North Fulton amended complaint alleges delayed cesarean before newborn’s brain injury after uterine rupture

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that a physician was not immediately available during a trial of labor after cesarean. The delay preceded an emergency cesarean performed after the uterus ruptured.

Provider grouping: Wellstar Health System
Care setting: Wellstar North Fulton Hospital
Providers involved: Wellstar North Fulton Hospital, Inc. / Urania Davis, D.O. / Mia Wyatt, CNM / Lynn Earman, CNM / Isis Obstetrics & Gynecology, LLC d/b/a Nile Women’s Healthcare
Alleged pattern: Alleged delay in recognizing uterine-rupture warning signs and reaching an emergency cesarean during a trial of labor after cesarean
Claimed harm: newborn hypoxic-ischemic brain injury from a ruptured uterus

Wellstar Health SystemBirth injuryObstetrics and gynecologyRead the case summary

Emory University Hospital Midtown complaint alleges a mismanaged induction before a newborn’s brain injury

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that Emory University Hospital Midtown providers mismanaged an induced labor before a newborn’s hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

Provider grouping: Emory University
Care setting: Emory University Hospital Midtown
Providers involved: Emory Healthcare, Inc. / The Emory Clinic, Inc. / Emory University / Stacia M. Crochet, M.D. / Jennifer Wrenn, M.D. / Nina D. Metcalfe, M.D. / Michael Neblett, M.D. / Veronica Alvarez, M.D. / Ying Liu, M.D. / Setutsi Miller, R.N. / Melanie Oneill, R.N. / Lauren Lux Middleton, R.N. / Elisheva Fekheri, R.N.
Alleged pattern: Alleged mismanagement of a Pitocin induction and delayed cesarean despite a nonreassuring fetal heart tracing
Claimed harm: hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, NICU care, ECMO life support, and permanent neurologic injuries

Emory UniversityBirth injuryObstetricsRead 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

Northside Hospital complaint alleges no continuous fetal monitoring before a twin’s death and her sister’s brain injury

This page concerns a complaint alleging that a Northside Hospital ultrasound and no continuous fetal monitoring preceded an emergency cesarean and a newborn twin’s death.

Provider grouping: Northside Hospital
Care setting: Northside Hospital
Providers involved: Northside Hospital, Inc. / Atlanta Perinatal Consultants, L.L.P. / Georgia Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates, P.C. / Carla Ransom, M.D. / Dian Sanders, M.D. / Kel Harper, M.D. / K.H.
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to start continuous electronic fetal monitoring after membrane rupture and an emergency cesarean ordered without a vaginal or cervical exam
Claimed harm: death of one premature twin and a permanent brain injury to her surviving sister

Northside HospitalFailure to monitorObstetricsRead the case summary

Emory Decatur Hospital complaint alleges delayed cesarean delivery before newborn neurological injury

This page concerns a complaint alleging that Emory Decatur Hospital delayed a cesarean delivery despite a Category 2 fetal heart tracing before neurological injuries.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory Decatur Hospital
Providers involved: Dekalb Medical Center, Inc. d/b/a Emory Decatur Hospital / Emory Healthcare, Inc. / The Emory Clinic, Inc. / Emory University / Pamela Boatner, C.N.M. / Lauren Abern, M.D. / Stuart Pancer, M.D.
Alleged pattern: Alleged delay in cesarean delivery despite a Category 2 fetal heart tracing and vaginal bleeding at 34 weeks
Claimed harm: hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy with lasting neurological and developmental injuries

Emory HealthcareBirth injuryObstetricsRead the case summary

Northside Hospital Atlanta complaint alleges fetal monitoring was stopped despite an abnormal tracing before stillbirth

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that an obstetrician and nurses did not respond appropriately to an abnormal fetal heart tracing before a stillbirth.

Provider grouping: Northside Hospital
Care setting: Northside Hospital Atlanta
Providers involved: Northside Hospital, Inc. d/b/a Northside Hospital Atlanta / Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN, LLC / Bret C. Lewis, M.D. / Candace McNair, N.P. / Sarah Sennett, RN
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to respond appropriately to an abnormal fetal heart tracing and untimely discontinuation of monitoring during expectant management of premature rupture of membranes
Claimed harm: stillbirth from unrecognized fetal hypoxia

Northside HospitalBirth injuryObstetrics and gynecologyRead the case summary

Emory University Hospital Midtown complaint alleges delayed cesarean before newborn’s hypoxic brain injury

This page concerns a public complaint alleging inadequate labor monitoring before a delayed cesarean delivery and the newborn’s brain injury.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory University Hospital Midtown
Providers involved: Emory Healthcare Inc. / Emory University / The Emory Clinic, Inc. / Sara Rizk, M.D. / Rachel McDiehl, M.D. / Angela Holder, M.D. / Elizabeth Marie Barnes Collins, M.D. / Natalie Levey, M.D. / Caroline Wentworth, M.D. / Alisha Kramer, M.D. / Jennifer Gustafson, M.D. / Emily Apple aka Emily Meares, R.N. / Ashley Cole, R.N. / Keturah Williams, R.N. / Kim Storey, R.N.
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to monitor and timely deliver during a prolonged labor complicated by pre-eclampsia and non-reassuring fetal heart tracings
Claimed harm: hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, acidosis, and cerebral palsy in the newborn

Emory HealthcareFailure to monitorObstetricsRead the case summary

Grady Memorial Hospital complaint alleges delayed response to a nonreassuring fetal tracing before a newborn’s injuries

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that Grady Memorial Hospital providers mismanaged a 2023 labor and delivery. It alleges they did not properly monitor fetal heart tones or timely respond to a nonreassuring tracing, causing permanent neurological injuries.

Provider grouping: Grady Health System
Care setting: Grady Memorial Hospital
Providers involved: Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority d/b/a Grady Health System d/b/a Grady Memorial Hospital / Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation / Alexandra Gabrielle Caldwell, M.D. / Banafsheh B. Shoai, M.D. / Tambari Simewa Piawah, M.D. / Thomas Faustino Chavez, M.D. / De’Smond Marquise Henry, M.D. / Frederick Orrin Bright, M.D.
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to properly monitor and timely respond to a nonreassuring fetal heart tracing during labor
Claimed harm: permanent neurological injury to a newborn

Grady Health SystemFailure to monitorObstetricsRead the case summary

Emory Decatur Hospital complaint alleges labor-induction Pitocin mismanagement before a newborn’s death

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that hospital staff kept escalating labor-induction medication despite abnormal fetal heart tracings before a newborn’s death.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory Decatur Hospital
Providers involved: Andrea M. Dabney, M.D. / Shanee L. Moore, RN / Cerita R. Houston, RN / Emory Physicians Group, LLC / Emory Healthcare, Inc. d/b/a Emory Decatur Hospital / Emory Healthcare Services Management, LLC / The Emory Clinic, Inc.
Alleged pattern: Alleged Pitocin escalation without notice to a physician despite abnormal fetal heart tracings
Claimed harm: fetal intolerance to Pitocin, transfer for cooling therapy, and a newborn’s death

Emory HealthcareFailure to monitorObstetricsRead the case summary

Emory Healthcare complaint alleges nurses removed a fetal monitor before a cord prolapse and a newborn’s death

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that hospital nurses removed a pregnant patient’s fetal monitor before a cord prolapse and a newborn’s death.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare, Inc.
Care setting: Emory Midtown Hospital
Providers involved: Emory Healthcare, Inc.
Alleged pattern: Alleged removal of continuous fetal monitoring from a hospitalized pregnant patient despite a non-reassuring fetal heart tracing
Claimed harm: umbilical cord prolapse, hypoxic brain injury, and a newborn’s death

Emory Healthcare, Inc.Birth injuryObstetricsRead the case summary

Northside Hospital Gwinnett complaint alleges excessive delivery traction before a newborn’s permanent nerve injury

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that excessive traction during a shoulder-dystocia delivery at Northside Hospital Gwinnett caused a newborn’s permanent nerve injury.

Provider grouping: Northside Hospital
Care setting: Northside Hospital Gwinnett
Providers involved: Anna Gretchen Troxler, M.D. / The Women’s Group of Gwinnett, P.C. / Northside Hospital, Inc.
Alleged pattern: Alleged excessive downward traction during a shoulder-dystocia delivery, shown on a birth video that contradicts the delivery notes
Claimed harm: permanent brachial plexus nerve injury causing loss of function in the newborn’s arm and hand

Northside HospitalBirth injuryObstetricsRead the case summary

Related healthcare providers

Emory Healthcare6 case summaries Wellstar6 case summaries Northside Hospital4 case summaries Children's Healthcare of Atlanta1 case summary Grady1 case summary Piedmont1 case summary

Related Georgia opinions

Related Georgia Opinions

Supreme Court of Georgia: the medical malpractice damages cap cannot touch a verdict that also includes pain-and-suffering damages a jury was entitled to award.Reaffirming Nestlehutt under stare decisis, the Supreme Court held that OCGA § 51-13-1's $350,000 noneconomic damages cap cannot be applied at all to a verdict that includes constitutionally protected noneconomic damages — here, the estate's pre-death pain and suffering. Because the statute lumps every claimant's noneconomic damages into one capped sum and offers no way to carve a verdict apart, the Court vacated an order that had cut a $29,250,000 wrongful death award to $350,000. It expressly reserved whether the cap could reach a stand-alone wrongful death award.