Grady Memorial Hospital complaint alleges delayed response to a nonreassuring fetal tracing before a newborn’s injuries
The complaint alleges that physicians and nurses at Grady Memorial Hospital mismanaged the labor and delivery of a newborn in July 2023. After the mother was admitted to the hospital’s labor and delivery unit, providers did not properly monitor fetal heart tones and contractions. They also did not timely recognize a nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing and gave Pitocin without a reassuring tracing. The complaint alleges that this delayed response to signs the fetus was not tolerating labor caused the newborn to suffer permanent neurological injuries. The hospital’s corporate operator is also accused of negligently hiring, training, and supervising the healthcare providers involved in the delivery.
Overview
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.
Chronology
The complaint alleges as follows:
- The mother began prenatal care at Southside Medical Center on or about December 14, 2022, and continued through delivery.
- She was admitted to Grady Memorial Hospital’s labor and delivery unit in July 2023 at about 6:15 a.m.
- During the admission, providers did not properly monitor the fetal heart tracing and contractions and gave Pitocin without a reassuring tracing.
- The complaint alleges that the newborn’s permanent neurological injuries resulted from the delayed recognition of the nonreassuring tracing and delayed delivery.
Alleged failures
The complaint alleges the following failures:
- The physicians did not properly monitor fetal heart tones and contractions during labor.
- They did not timely recognize or respond to a nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing.
- They gave Pitocin without a reassuring tracing and did not recognize that the fetus was not tolerating labor.
- The nurses attending the delivery did not advocate for timely delivery. They did not invoke the chain of command for a timely cesarean once labor was not progressing.
- The complaint alleges that the delayed intervention in the labor and delivery caused the newborn’s permanent neurological injuries.
- The complaint pleads medical malpractice and negligent hiring, training, and supervision, and attaches physician and nurse affidavits under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-9.1.