The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is investigating the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth after two mothers died soon after childbirth. The state agency says the probe is “standard protocol” because childbirth-related fatalities don’t happen very often and these two deaths occurred within weeks of one another.
The women are Christie Lee Fazio, who died after delivering her son on December 14 and Colleen Celia, 32, whose death was on January 15. The Boston Herald says that Fazio, 30, died from cesarean section complications and Celia’s death was because she experienced an amniotic fluid embolism-this complication, which involves the fluid entering the woman’s bloodstream, has an 80% fatality rate. Prior to delivery, Celia was already considered a high-risk pregnancy because she had placenta previa.
South Shore Hospital deals with about 3,600 births annually. Hospital officials are adamant they did all they could for the moms. The state has designated it a level III program, which means the hospital offers advanced care to women with risky pregnancies as well as neonatal intensive care services.
According to the state’s Board of Registration in Medicine, in 2012 there were only three Massachusetts maternal deaths in 2012.
Massachusetts Birthing Malpractice
While there are injuries and deaths from childbirth that were unavoidable, some could have been prevented if only Boston medical malpractice on the part a doctor, obstetrician, surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurse, or some other medical professional hadn’t occurred. At Altman & Altman, LLP, our Massachusetts birth injury lawyers understand the tragedy of losing a mother or infant to childbirth-what should have been a joyous occasion is instead a devastating one. We represent families seeking to recover compensation from all negligent parties for the loss and hurt suffered.
Examples of birth traumas to mothers:
• Bladder nicks • Organ nicks • A ruptured uterus • Cesarean-related injuries • Anesthesia error-related injuries • Overdose of the drug administered to induce labor • Surgical injuries • Maternal
There are also, of course, the catastrophic injuries that can happen to a fetus or newborn.
Two Childbirth-Related Deaths at Mass. Hospital Spark State Investigation, ABC News, January 23, 2014
State reviews 2 deaths at South Shore Hospital, The Boston Globe, January 22, 2014
Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Mass.gov
More Blog Posts:
Medical Malpractice?: Girl Now Brain Dead After Tonsillectomy to Stay on Life Support, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, December 30, 2013
Lowell Parents Gets $5M Boston Birthing Malpractice Verdict Against Tufts Medical Center, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, November 24, 2013
Thalidomide Injury Lawsuits Leads to $81M Settlement, Massachusetts Drug Injury Lawyers Blog,