Daniel E. Holloway
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Piedmont Henry complaint alleges ovarian-torsion delay before ovary loss and fetal death

The complaint alleges that providers at Piedmont Henry Hospital and other care settings failed to properly investigate a pregnant patient’s repeated severe abdominal pain despite known adnexal cysts. The patient was discharged multiple times without diagnostic imaging or a diagnosis, later presented to Northside Hospital, and was diagnosed with ovarian torsion requiring emergency surgery. The delay led to loss of the right ovary and death of the patient’s 21-week-old fetus.

System
Piedmont Henry Hospital
Facility
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
Pattern
Alleged failure to investigate severe abdominal pain in pregnancy despite known adnexal cysts
Harm
Alleged ovarian torsion, loss of the right ovary, and fetal death at 21 weeks

Overview

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.

Chronology

The complaint alleges as follows:

  1. The patient began prenatal care in July 2022 and was found to have adnexal cysts, including one described as 7 cm by 7 cm.
  2. The patient presented by ambulance to Piedmont Henry Hospital on October 12, 2022 with sharp abdominal pain and was discharged with pain medication without a diagnosis.
  3. The patient returned to Piedmont Henry Hospital on October 13, 2022 with continued pain but was again discharged without ultrasound imaging or investigation of the cysts.
  4. The patient sought care from Dr. Preyasi Kothari on October 14, 2022 after a recommendation from her primary-care physician, and Dr. Kothari allegedly refused to admit her.
  5. The patient presented to Northside Hospital on October 15, 2022, was diagnosed with ovarian torsion, and underwent emergency surgery.
  6. The patient’s right ovary could not be saved and her daughter was delivered prematurely and did not survive.

Alleged failures

The complaint alleges the following failures:

  • Dr. Fapohunda and Every Woman’s OB-GYN failed to communicate the existence of adnexal cysts to treating hospitals.
  • Piedmont Henry Hospital staff failed to obtain an adequate history or investigate the source of the patient’s pain.
  • Dr. Kothari failed to admit the patient despite multiple prior emergency visits for the same symptoms.
  • The collective failure to treat ovarian torsion led to loss of the patient’s ovary and the death of her child.

Entities and tags

Piedmont Henry HospitalEvery Woman’s OB-GYN, LLCNorthside HospitalOvarian torsionAdnexal cystsPregnancyFetal deathRight ovaryDelayed or missed diagnosisDelayed treatmentEmergency department careWrongful deathObstetricsGynecologyEmergency medicineLabor and delivery