Three Lawsuits Filed for Mismanaged Labor and Delivery by Houston Hospital Posted on October 14, 2016 by Larry Bodine Three families have filed suit in Harris County, TX, against a doctor and a local hospital in connection with the mismanaged labor and delivery of their newborn baby boys, one who died and two who suffered severe brain damage. Texas attorney Mo Aziz of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend in Houston is representing three families. Chance McMillan of Thurlow & Associates is also part of the families’ legal team. The families filed suit against June Williams Colman, M.D., P.A., and Serenity Healthcare for Women, the health care providers that provided prenatal care and oversaw labor and delivery, and CHCA Bayshore, L.P. d/b/a Bayshore Medical Center and CHCA Bayshore, L.P. d/b/a East Houston Regional Medical Center, the hospital where the infants were delivered. Newborn in distress On July 19, 2012, Jessica Bonura was admitted to East Houston Regional Medical Center for induction of labor with Oxytocin. When mismanaged, Oxytocin infusion can lead to adverse perinatal outcomes related to fetal hypoxia. Dr. Colman and the nurses at East Houston Regional Medical Center progressively increased the dosage of Oxytocin over the course of the day, despite clear indications that Ms. Bonura’s baby boy was in distress. Ms. Bonura was allowed to push for over two hours and a shoulder dystocia was encountered, which further compromised the infant’s condition. At birth, the newborn had no respiratory effort and required bag mask ventilation for approximately two-and-a-half minutes before some respiratory effort was noted. As a result, Ms. Bonura’s baby boy has suffered severe permanent brain damage. On October 18, 2014, Stephanie Garcia was admitted to East Houston Regional Medical Center with contractions. Upon admission, Ms. Garcia’s vital signs and lab results indicated a risk for maternal and fetal infection in addition to perinatal asphyxia. Dr. Colman and the nurses at East Houston Regional Medical Center allowed Ms. Garcia to push for over one-and-a-half hours before the infant was delivered. At birth, the newborn was not breathing and finally gasped for air for the first time at 10 minutes of age. As a result, Ms. Garcia’s baby boy suffered severe brain damage and has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He has been tube fed since he was born and will require nursing care for the remainder of his life. On November 4, 2015, Tatyana Phillips was admitted to East Houston Regional Medical Center for induction of labor with Oxytocin. Over the course of the day, Dr. Colman and the nurses at East Houston Regional Medical Center failed to correctly interpret the fetal heart rate tracings, which indicated that the infant was in distress. Ms. Phillips was allowed to push for over two hours before Dr. Colman applied a vacuum extractor in an attempt to deliver the baby. After two failed attempts, Dr. Colman discontinued use of the vacuum due to the presence of abrasions on the infant’s head. Ms. Phillips was allowed to push for another hour, despite clear signs of fetal distress. Dr. Colman then reapplied the vacuum extractor and a severe shoulder dystocia was encountered. The infant was noted to have the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck two times. His condition progressively worsened until Ms. Phillips delivered her baby boy. Ms. Phillips’s son tragically passed away fifteen minutes after delivery. In each of these cases, Dr. Colman and the nurses and staff members of East Houston Regional Medical Center failed to properly manage the labor and delivery of the three women and failed to intervene despite clear evidence of fetal distress. None of the women were offered a cesarean section. To learn more about the lawsuit or to contact Mo Aziz, call 713-222-7211 or email him at maziz@abrahamwatkins.com.
