$1.5 Million Settlement in Failure to Timely Treat Internal Bleeding After Childbirth

During the 35th week of pregnancy with twins, Ms. Doe went to her hospital following the premature rupture of her membranes. The twins were delivered successfully by way of a cesarean section. However, several hours after delivery, Ms. Doe developed hypotension tachycardia and other symptoms that did not resolve despite efforts to intervene by the hospital staff. Two hours later, Ms. Doe’s treating obstetrician returned to the hospital and, after about two hours, ordered emergency surgery.

Within thirty minutes of the surgery, Ms. Doe became unresponsive. Despite chest compressions and intubation following her cardiac arrest, Ms. Doe unfortunately died.

Ms. Doe was survived by her children, including her newborn twins. The cause of death reportedly was exsanguination (loss of blood) from internal bleeding caused by the suture dehiscence.

Exsanguination is the medical term to describe death caused by the loss of blood. Dehiscence refers to the separation of or bursting open of the surgical incision, which is what happened to Ms. Doe in this instance.

In the lawsuit filed against the defendants, it was alleged that the defendants chose not to timely return Ms. Doe to surgery in light of her symptoms over a four-hour period. There was an abundance of evidence that indicated internal bleeding and hypovolemic shock.

Before a jury trial, the parties settled for $1.5 million. The lawyer who successfully handled this tragic case was Brewster S. Rawls.

Doe v. Roe, Confidential docket.

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling wrongful death cases, birth trauma injury lawsuits, medical negligence cases and traumatic brain injury lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 48 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Bolingbrook, Elgin, Aurora, North Barrington, Inverness, Glenview, Riverside, Morton Grove, Oak Lawn, Chicago (Rogers Park, Back of the Yards, Pilsen, Chinatown, Greek Town, Wrigleyville, North Lawndale, Andersonville), Deerfield, Orland Park and Arlington Heights, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.