Ob-gyn who made 'errors in judgment' didn't inform patient of her baby's death, visit after delivery

An East Coast doctor whose “gross negligence or reckless disregard” during a pregnant patient’s delivery led to the death of the patient’s baby girl has been reprimanded by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador and ordered to pay $10,000 in hearing costs. Dr. Krista D. Brown, an obstetrician-gynecologist in St. John’s, failed to “appreciate the significance of the abnormal fetal heart tracing and the consequent need for urgent intervention,” the college wrote in its decision. In addition to the reprimand and hearing costs, Dr. Brown has been ordered to complete professional development courses covering appropriate management of labour and delivery, as well as “effective communication with patients.” Read: Doctors say lack of communication on epidural shortage 'frustrating' The college noted in its decision that Dr. Brown did not inform the patient that her baby had died—the patient learned of her infant daughter’s death after Dr. Brown had left. Dr. Brown also did not visit the patient at any time after the delivery, according to the decision document. The patient, who has a complex medical history, was admitted to hospital in January 2019 for treatment of increased blood pressure. She was at 37 weeks plus five days gestation. Four days after she was admitted to hospital, the patient was initially prescribed vaginal Cervidil, and later prostaglandin and Oxytocin, to induce labour. When Dr. Brown became involved a few days later, she ordered Oxytocin to be restarted. Dr. Brown began treating the patient for suspected chorioamnionitis. Later that evening, Dr. Brown was made aware that a fetal heart rate tracing read abnormal. She did not arrange for urgent delivery but rather ordered an increased dose of Oxytocin. Read: No biopsy, cytology or ultrasound: Ob-gyn suspended for missing patient's endometrial cancer A few hours later, Dr. Brown assessed the patient and saw that the fetal heart rate was still abnormal with repeated complicated decelerations. At this point, Dr. Brown recommended an attempted forceps delivery, which she assessed would be quicker than a caesarian. The infant was delivered by forceps but was identified as having a mild to moderate shoulder dystocia. This resulted in a delay of less than one minute to complete the delivery. The infant was immediately transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit’s team for resuscitation but did not survive. The college ruled that Dr. Brown had “demonstrated errors in judgment that did not meet the standard of practice that is expected of an obstetrician/gynecologist.” Dr. Brown pleaded guilty to professional misconduct. Read: Ob/gyn society launches data collection initiative on Canadian maternal mortality

Ob-gyn who made 'errors in judgment' didn't inform patient of her baby's death, visit after delivery

Register for free access or login.

Related Topics