PITTSBURGH – A Sewickley couple have filed wrongful death litigation against a local doctor, obstetrics and gynecology practice and a hospital, charging that their collective negligence led to the death of their baby daughter about one year ago.
Suzanna C. Quinn and Robert M. Quinn (individually and as Administrators of the Estate of Christene Elizabeth Ann Quinn) filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on Aug. 15 versus Rebecca Welch, M.D., Tri-State Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inc. (doing business as “OB/GYN Associates of Sewickley”); and Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital. All parties are of Sewickley.
“In the summer of 2022, the plaintiffs were expecting their daughter, Baby Christene, to be born in November 2022. On June 15, 2022, plaintiff Mother presented to Allegheny Perinatal Associates for an ultrasound that demonstrated normal fetal anatomy. On Aug. 8, 2022, plaintiff Mother presented to Allegheny Perinatal Associates at 29 weeks and one-day gestational age for an ultrasound that revealed a healthy baby with demonstrated a fetal weight of 1550 g, amniotic fluid index of 18.0 cm, and fetal growth estimate at the 78th percentile,” the suit says.
“On the morning of Sept. 4, 2022, plaintiff Mother presented to Heritage Valley Sewickley at 31 weeks and 4 days gestational age with complaints of nausea and vomiting. At that time, defendant Hospital advertised and held itself out as capable and qualified to evaluate, diagnose, and treat pregnant patients. At that time, defendant Hospital advertised that it maintained excellent relationships with referral hospitals in Pittsburgh, such that pregnant mothers in need of higher level of care could and would be stabilized and transferred as necessary. At that time, defendant Practice maintained an office within defendant Hospital. Plaintiff Mother was placed on a fetal heart monitor at or about 9:10 a.m. Plaintiff Mother was documented as COVID positive, with Type 2 diabetes that she treated with insulin.”
The suit adds on that day, at no point did defendant Welch meet, evaluate and/or assess plaintiff Mother in person, nor did defendant Hospital ensure that a qualified physician met, evaluated, and/or assessed plaintiff Mother in person.
“Lab work from plaintiff Mother’s encounter revealed numerous abnormal results indicatives of ketoacidosis, including CO2 of 7 mmol/L (which was a critical result that was repeated), anion gap of 25 mmol/L, creatinine of 0.9 mg/dL, a urine protein to creatinine ratio of 0.58, and 4+ ketones on urinalysis. On information and belief, some or all of defendant Hospital’s healthcare providers noted the sweet smell of acetone – a sign of high levels of ketones in the blood — emanating from plaintiff Mother,” the suit states.
“Defendant Welch documented that, ‘Attempted vaginal exam but patient not able to tolerate however cervix not palpated and had not palpated. Patient’s blood pressures here were stable but she has a history in the past of pre-eclampsia. A spot urine was obtained and was 0.58. She will be sent home with 24-hour urine however due to her urinary tract infection and ketonuria as well as proteinuria likely more related to those things. She initially had 4+ ketones in her urine. Again, she was given IV fluids and insulin as well as a dose of amoxicillin and started to tolerate clears.’ Defendant Welch knew plaintiff Mother had ketonuria in the setting of vomiting and was not taking her insulin. Defendant Welch knew plaintiff had an elevated anion gap. Defendant Welch knew infection in a patient with Type II diabetes is a risk factor for or conditions known to cause diabetic ketoacidosis. Defendant Welch knew nausea and vomiting in Type II diabetic with known infection are symptoms of or conditions known to cause diabetic ketoacidosis. Defendant Welch knew the failure to treat diabetic ketoacidosis in pregnancy and closely monitor the mother and fetus would increase the risk of death or serious injury to both the mother and fetus.”
Despite signs of decelerating heartbeat in the fetus, the suit says the plaintiff mother was discharged from Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital and sent home in the mid-afternoon on Sept. 4, 2022.
The following day, Sept. 5, 2022, plaintiff mother presented to West Penn Hospital with complaints of decreased fetal movement and shortness of breath.
“At that time, plaintiff mother was found to have a non-reassuring fetal heart tracing with fetal bradycardia in the 80 to 90 beats per minute range without resolution. Plaintiff mother was taken for an emergency cesarean delivery. At birth, Baby Christene had Apgar scores of 1 and 0 at 1 and 5 minutes and birth weight of 2150g. Baby Christene was not able to be successfully resuscitated by pediatricians and died shortly after birth. Plaintiff mother and plaintiff father were in the immediate vicinity of Baby Christene’s birth and were present at or around the time of Baby Christene’s death. Intraoperatively, plaintiff mother was found to have euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis,” the suit says.
“Plaintiff mother and plaintiff father were shocked, upset, traumatized, distressed and saddened by the loss of their daughter. Plaintiff mother was subsequently transferred to the intensive care unit where her diabetic ketoacidosis was treated and resolved. An endocrinology consult note stated, ‘Patient upon admission to the ICU was noted to have severe metabolic acidosis secondary to severe DKA likely in setting of pregnancy and COVID.’ The death certificate for Baby Christene listed perinatal asphyxia as the immediate cause of death. The death certificate also listed COVID infection, diabetes, and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) as causes of death. In the days following Baby Christene’s death, plaintiff mother reported to healthcare providers as being in a state of shock. ‘She states that she was able to sleep last night for a few hours but had been quite anxious and unsettled when awake. Some intrusive negative thoughts, some somatic symptoms of restlessness. Thoughts are distracting. Anxious about going home, stating they had just finished getting the baby's room ready.’ As a result of the negligence of the defendants, plaintiff mother and plaintiff father have been caused to suffer headaches, insomnia, depression, nightmares, nervousness, stress and/or anxiety.”
For counts of negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, survival and wrongful death, the plaintiffs are seeking damages in excess of the threshold amount for a board of arbitrators in this jurisdiction and demand a trial by jury.
The plaintiffs are represented by Brendan B. Lupetin and Gregory R. Unatin of Lupetin & Unatin, in Pittsburgh.
The defendants have not yet obtained legal counsel.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-23-009765
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com