C-Section Injury Lawsuit Against Hopkins

Srivastav v. Johns Hopkins Health System

This is a medical malpractice lawsuit filed against Johns Hopkins after a cervical laceration on by a woman in Baltimore City after giving birth lead to an unwanted hysterectomy. This lawsuit was filed in Health Claims Arbitration on January 5, 2017, and is the fifth medical malpractice case filed in Maryland in 2017 (and the second against Hopkins).

Summary of Plaintiff's Allegations

Plaintiff is having a Cesarean section done at defendant hospital. She alleges that the surgical team makes an incision too low on her abdomen, causing significant postpartum hemorrhage. Even though the doctors allegedly see this, they do not immediately perform an exam or exploratory laparotomy to locate the source of the bleeding.

The doctors initiate a transfusion protocol, assuming the bleeding is due to uterine atony. However, the plaintiff's hemorrhaging continues for more than ten hours. Eventually, an emergency exploratory laparotomy is done, at which point the doctor realizes she needs to do a hysterectomy to stop the hemorrhaging. Additionally, the doctor finds that there was no uterine atony, but the bleeding was caused by a cervical laceration done during the Cesarean section.

As a result, plaintiff alleges she is no longer able to have children.

Additional Comments

• According to Williams Obstetrics, "A deep cervical tear should always be suspected in cases of profuse hemorrhage during and after the third stage of labor, particularly if the uterus is firmly contracted. The extent of the injury can be fully appreciated only after adequate exposure and visual inspection of the cervix. In view of the frequency with which deep tears follow major operative procedures, the cervix should be inspected routinely at the conclusion of the third stage after all difficult deliveries, even if there is no bleeding." You can expect the plaintiff's malpractice lawyers and their experts to rely on this to make the argument that a cervical laceration should have been ruled out from the beginning.
• The Complaint suggests that uterine atony was not at a cause of the bleeding. If true, this helps plaintiffs. Often doctors defend these cases arguing that the uterine atony obscured the ability to adequately examine the cervix. If the uterus is boggy and blood is pouring out of it from uterine atony, it is that much more challenging to see a cervix laceration.
• The age and number of children the Plaintiff has will impact on the settlement value of this case.

Jurisdiction

• Baltimore City

Defendants

• Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation
• Johns Hopkins University/Medicine
• Johns Hopkins Hospital
• Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Inc.
• Johns Hopkins Community Physicians, Inc.

Hospitals Where Patient was Treated

• Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

Negligence

• Making a hysterotomy incision during the performance of a C-section that was too low on plaintiff's abdomen
• Failing to properly suture all lacerations and extensions
• Failing to perform a vaginal exam/exploratory laparotomy to locate the source of bleeding
• Failing to perform a differential diagnosis to rule out bleeding from a laceration
• Failing to intervene to locate the source of bleeding
• Failing to consult with an interventional radiologist or an experienced pelvic surgeon

Specific Counts Pled

• Medical Negligence
• Loss of Consortium

Getting a Lawyer for Your Malpractice Claim

If you or someone you know has suffered due to the negligence of a hospital or a doctor, Miller and Zois can help you get the compensation and justice you deserve. We have a history of earning significant settlement and verdicts in these medical malpractice cases against hospitals in Maryland. You can go online for a free consultation or call us anytime at (800) 553-8082.

More Malpractice Claim Information

• Medical malpractice lawsuits against Johns Hopkins Hospital
• Hopkins get sued quite a bit. These are some of the recent cases filed against this hospital.
  • Lawsuit filed against Johns Hopkins in 2016 against a nurse
  • Phlebotomist malpractice case filed against Johns Hopkins in 2016
  • A case filed in February 2016 against Johns Hopkins, alleging the failure to diagnose portal vein thrombosis
• Learn about surgical malpractice cases in Maryland
• Value in Maryland of medical malpractice cases

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