Postpartum hemorrhage led to hysterectomy — $600,000 settlement

Type of action: Personal injury; medical malpractice

Injuries alleged: Uterine atony causing postpartum hemorrhage leading to total abdominal hysterectomy

Tried before: Mediation

Date resolved: 8/24/2023

Special damages: Medical expenses of $338,828.50

Verdict or settlement: Settlement

Amount: $600,000

Attorneys for plaintiff: James W. “Jim” Haskins and Scott C. Wall, Martinsville; Anthony M. “Tony” Russell, Roanoke

Description of case: The plaintiff was 26 years old and pregnant with her first baby for 39 weeks. She went into labor and defendant obstetrician permitted her second stage of labor to last six hours with no progression of labor despite Pitocin and other efforts. After a prolonged second stage of labor, she was taken to the delivery room and underwent a successful C-section that delivered a healthy baby. However, she suffered uterine atony causing postpartum hemorrhage leading to a total abdominal hysterectomy.

Plaintiff stated that defendant obstetrician committed malpractice in allowing plaintiff’s second stage of labor to last six hours with no progression of labor. The standard of care required that Pitocin and other labor efforts be stopped no longer than four hours into second stage of labor and a C-section performed, which would have avoided plaintiff’s uterine atony, postpartum hemorrhage and total abdominal hysterectomy.

Defendant obstetrician alleged that plaintiff’s treatment complied with standard of care and that her outcome would have happened even if defendant obstetrician had done what plaintiff said the standard of care was.

Shortly before trial, the matter settled with direct negotiations between plaintiff’s counsel and defense counsel.

Plaintiff’s counsel Anthony M. “Tony” Russell provided case information.

[023-T-155]