Woman didn't know she was pregnant, gives birth -- now hospital is sued

Oct 16, 2008 03:40 AM

by Anxious Patient

Premium Member

TAMPA — Robin Lumley, childless, overweight and unmarried at 46, arrived at an emergency room 2 1/2 years ago complaining of terrible abdominal pain. Nurses documented her symptoms and a doctor ordered tests. When Lumley said she needed to use the restroom, they let her go. A short while later, the medical staff found that she had delivered a 6-pound baby girl into the toilet.

Lumley didn't even know she was pregnant, an attorney says. He claims the medical staff should have. Because it missed obvious signs of labor, he says, Lumley's baby almost drowned. The hospital is being sued, contending that the baby went into respiratory arrest and suffered brain damage due to treatment providers' negligence. He wants the hospital to pay for Brianna's lifelong medical care.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/oct/...es-birth----n/

*oramar* · Oct 16, 2008, 03:18 PM

Re: Woman didn't know she was pregnant, gives birth -- now hospital is sued

You could make the case that the child has brain damage from being exposed to cocaine thoughout the pregnancy.

MIcrunchyRN · Oct 16, 2008, 03:21 PM

Re: Woman didn't know she was pregnant, gives birth -- now hospital is sued

Hospital shouldn't be responsible. I'm sorry but if you read the full article.. the mother was on cocaine at the time she was brought into hospital. So the child's condition cannot be proved it was negligence of the hospital. Also how many people on cocaine are acting "normal" they all probably thought she was high on something or exaggerating and drug seeking.

I'm sorry but its not the hospitals fault this mother was clueless with herself and didnt know she was pregnant.

Altho from having my own kids and being present for others births, its surprising someone didn't think twice with the vaginal bleeding.

**BBFRN** · Oct 16, 2008, 03:30 PM

Re: Woman didn't know she was pregnant, gives birth -- now hospital is sued

The article also doesn't state how long the woman was in the ER.

I wonder too, if the doc hurried up and wrote that pregnancy test, when it was determined she had delivered a baby in the toilet. It seems if the nurse had been aware that a (urine) pregnancy test was ordered, she would have given the patient a specimen cup to take to the BR with her.

LelaRN · Oct 16, 2008, 03:34 PM

Re: Woman didn't know she was pregnant, gives birth -- now hospital is sued

Hospital shouldn't be responsible. This is pretty sad that anybody can hire a lawyer and sue a hospital just to escape their own personal responsibility. The hospital didn't make this person into a overweight drug addict nor did they "lay down" with her to cause her to become pregnant.

*leslie :-D* · Oct 16, 2008, 03:39 PM

Re: Woman didn't know she was pregnant, gives birth -- now hospital is sued

honestly, i'm not sure i'd automatically suspect pregnancy in a 46yo perimenopausal woman.
but-w/o knowing her dx, i wouldn't have let her go to the br alone.

leslie

Altra · Oct 16, 2008, 03:51 PM

Re: Woman didn't know she was pregnant, gives birth -- now hospital is sued

Originally Posted by BBFRN

The article also doesn't state how long the woman was in the ER.

I wonder too, if the doc hurried up and wrote that pregnancy test, when it was determined she had delivered a baby in the toilet. It seems if the nurse had been aware that a (urine) pregnancy test was ordered, she would have given the patient a specimen cup to take to the BR with her.

It says the test was never performed, not that the patient wasn't given a specimen cup. Kinda pointless to get a urine specimen after you find a baby in the toilet.

From the several times daily that we see female pts. c/o abd pain & vag bleeding, the first thing that is requested of the pt. is a urine specimen. Practitioners want to know the results of the pregnancy test before conducting an exam.

From what has been reported in that article, I see no irregularities in the course of ER treatment other than this pt. went into the bathroom and produced a baby instead of a urine specimen.

Denial is an amazing thing. I've seen spontaneous deliveries of babies that the mothers claimed no prior knowledge of twice already in my less than 4 years in the ER.

**BBFRN** · Oct 16, 2008, 03:53 PM

Re: Woman didn't know she was pregnant, gives birth -- now hospital is sued

Originally Posted by Altra

It says the test was never performed, not that the patient wasn't given a specimen cup. Kinda pointless to get a urine specimen after you find a baby in the toilet.

Not if you're a doc who is doing some CYA.

I understood that the test was never performed.

Altra · Oct 16, 2008, 03:54 PM

Re: Woman didn't know she was pregnant, gives birth -- now hospital is sued

Originally Posted by earle58

honestly, i'm not sure i'd automatically suspect pregnancy in a 46yo perimenopausal woman.
but-w/o knowing her dx, i wouldn't have let her go to the br alone.

leslie

All 46-year olds are perimenopausal? I'll have to tell all my late-40-ish friends, particularly the one who is currently pregnant with her 3rd child.

I'm curious why you wouldn't have let this pt. go to the bathroom alone. Female patients presenting with abd pain and/or vag bleeding are extremely common - we see several a day. Off to the bathroom they go, if at all possible. A urine specimen is the first order of business.

**BBFRN** · Oct 16, 2008, 03:57 PM

Re: Woman didn't know she was pregnant, gives birth -- now hospital is sued

Originally Posted by Altra

All 46-year olds are perimenopausal? I'll have to tell all my late-40-ish friends, particularly the one who is currently pregnant with her 3rd child.

I'm curious why you wouldn't have let this pt. go to the bathroom alone. Female patients presenting with abd pain and/or vag bleeding are extremely common - we see several a day. Off to the bathroom they go, if at all possible. A urine specimen is the first order of business.

Which was why I found it curious that it wasn't done, and why the patient's time spent in the ER might be pertinent. Maybe she just got there, and hadn't even been seen by a nurse yet.

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Woman didn't know she was pregnant, gives birth -- now hospital is sued

Woman didn't know she was pregnant, gives birth -- now hospital is sued

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