The plaintiff, age fifty-two, went to the emergency
department of the hospital in March 2005. He had experienced transient episodes of blurred vision and also had a numb right hand. He was examined by a doctor and nurse practitioner “A”. The plaintiff’s symptoms quickly resolved and a CT scan did not reveal abnormalities. About twenty minutes later the plaintiff was examined by another nurse, “B”, who noted slurred speech, confusion and weakness on the right side. The symptoms were reported to the emergency department and Nurse “B” was told that these symptoms had not been present in the examinations by the doctor and nurse practitioner “A”. The plaintiff’s symptoms worsened. By the next day it was determined that the plaintiff had suffered a full stroke. The plaintiff was transferred to another hospital and was hospitalized for several weeks. He achieved significant recovery, but continued to have partial paralysis of his right arm, aphasia, mild impairment of cognitive functions, and foot drop of the right foot. He requires a cane, but can independently perform most of his everyday activities. A $4 million settlement was reached at the end of the plaintiff’s presentation of evidence at trial.
Failure to Properly Respond to Fetal Distress During Labor
(Neonatal Nurse) (Labor and Delivery Care Nurse) The plaintiff mother had a history of meth use and was admitted to labor and delivery in April 2006 for cervical ripening and induction of labor. The labor was augmented with Pitocin. The mother developed an over-frequent contraction pattern and the long term beat-to-beat variability of the fetal heart decreased. Late decelerations were also recorded on the fetal monitor. The nurses intervened more than five hours after the first signs of fetal distress, but this did not include reducing the rate of Pitocin infusion. When the Pitocin was finally stopped the fetal monitor recorded a prolonged deceleration and a contraction which lasted for more than five minutes. The family practice doctor was contacted, but chose to have the mother and baby rechecked an hour later. The baby was delivered by emergency cesarean section two and one-half hours after the defendant doctor ordered the recheck. The newborn required extensive resuscitation. She was diagnosed with severe perinatal depression and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. She did not survive, however. According to a published account a $325,000 settlement was reached.
A Comparative Study To Assess The Effect of Steam Inhalation V/s Tulsi Leaves Inhalation On The Sign and Symptoms of Cold and Cough Among Adult Group in Selected Areas of Pune City