Daniel E. Holloway
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Wellstar Kennestone complaint alleges delayed MFM consultation and failure to offer cerclage during IVF pregnancy

The complaint alleges that a patient with an IVF pregnancy presented to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital at 18 weeks gestation, was diagnosed with cervical incompetence, and was admitted on June 12, 2023 but not evaluated by a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist until June 15. The defendant physicians failed to offer cervical cerclage, progesterone, or tocolytics, and those alleged failures caused the loss of the IVF pregnancy and child along with post-operative complications.

System
Wellstar Health System
Facility
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
Pattern
High-risk IVF pregnancy with cervical incompetence allegedly followed by delayed MFM consultation and no cerclage offer
Harm
Alleged pregnancy loss and post-operative complications including syncope, transfusion, and chest pain

Overview

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.

Chronology

The complaint alleges as follows:

  1. The plaintiff presented to the emergency department at Wellstar Kennestone on June 11, 2023 reporting vaginal bulging after a bowel movement and was released with follow-up instructions.
  2. The plaintiff returned on June 12, 2023, was diagnosed with cervical incompetence at 18 weeks gestation during an IVF pregnancy, and was admitted by Dr. Carey Dobbins.
  3. The plaintiff was not evaluated by a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist until June 15, 2023.
  4. On June 15 Dr. Joseph Bryant noted during ultrasound that the baby was in the vagina with a heartbeat, and he delivered the very preterm baby.
  5. Dr. Bryant later performed a dilatation and curettage to remove retained placenta after the plaintiff experienced worsening pain and passed clots.
  6. The plaintiff experienced post-operative syncope, received a blood transfusion, and developed chest pain.
  7. The plaintiff was never offered a cervical cerclage during the admission.

Alleged failures

The complaint alleges the following failures:

  • Dr. Dobbins, Dr. Bryant, and Dr. Nathan failed to provide or offer cervical cerclage for a patient admitted with cervical incompetence at 18 weeks gestation.
  • The defendant physicians failed to provide progesterone supplementation or tocolytics to decrease uterine contractions.
  • The complaint alleges that a three-day delay before Maternal Fetal Medicine evaluation fell below the applicable standard of care.
  • The failure to provide timely treatment caused the loss of the plaintiff’s IVF pregnancy and child.
  • The complaint asserts respondeat-superior allegations against Wellstar Medical Group, Kennestone Hospital, and Wellstar Health System.

Entities and tags

Wellstar Health SystemWellstar Kennestone HospitalCarey A. Dobbins, M.D.Joseph Bryant, M.D.Lawrence Nathan, M.D.Cervical incompetenceCervical cerclageIVF pregnancyMaternal Fetal MedicineTocolyticsProgesteroneDilatation and curettageDelayed treatmentDelayed or missed diagnosisBirth injuryObstetrics and gynecologyMaternal-fetal medicineEmergency medicineHigh-risk pregnancy