Woman sues over big baby

heraldsun ^

[chance33_98]

Woman sues over big baby

22nov02

A PERTH woman is suing her doctor for negligence, saying the size of her baby meant she should have had a caesarian section instead of a natural birth.

Tammy Sheppard is suing her doctor Pauline Swan over medical complications, including incontinence, she has suffered since her son's natural birth in 1998. Ms Sheppard maintains she would have had a caesarian section had she known her baby, whose shoulders got stuck during the delivery, was going to be so big. The baby was 5.365kg.

Associate Professor Jan Dickinson gave expert opinion at the civil hearing today in Perth Magistrates Court on whether the birth records showed Dr Swan should have opted for a caesarian section after witnessing the early stages of Ms Sheppard's first labour.

The professor said the data indicated the birth appeared to be progressing well early on.

"I wish most of my patients had labour like this," Prof Dickinson said.

"Clearly, Ms Sheppard has a magnificent pelvis."

Prof Dickinson said there were no indicators which suggested a caesarian section would have been advisable.

However, Prof Dickinson admitted some doctors may have decided to operate.

"Some of my colleagues would perform a caesarian because a foetus is in the womb," she said.

"Or it could be that it's five o'clock and time to go home."

[riley1992]

The baby was 5.365kg

Metric is not my strong suit. What is this in pounds?

[goldstategop]

Good lord. She should sue her husband for introducing a deadly weapon inside her when they were conceiving.

[chance33_98]

11.828 I believe

[Evil Inc]

This is why obgyn are leaving the business in the USA. Lawsuits for everything.

[verity]

According to an old joke, the husband should be suing!

[goldstategop]

If she thought having a baby was too painful, she should have refrained from sex.

[MadIvan]

Woman sues over big baby

For a second there, I thought this was another Al Gore article.

Regards, Ivan

[FreedomPoster]

Around 11.8! *That's* a big baby.

That said, one of my nieces was within a pound of that, vaginal delivery, and my sister-in-law is maybe 5-8, 130 or so, so not that big. It's amazing what the human body can do.

I think this is more of an indication that the Aussies are being afflicted with U.S. attitudes towards ridiculous lawsuits.

[MedicalMess]

"Clearly, Ms Sheppard has a magnificent pelvis."

That was on her husbands mind 9 months earlier.

[riley1992]

Okay, that is a huge baby. However, the whole complication of incontinence thing is ridiculous. That is a common circumstance that follows the delivery of even small babies.

[leadpenny]

Heck, one of my sons was 9lb. 9ozs. And there was no pain. Of course, I'm his dad.

The doctor who delivered him said he had once delivered a 14lb. baby.

[chainsaw]

Hey, The lady has to make a few easy bucks to support that healthy baby.

[MotleyGirl70]

The baby was 5.365kg.

What is that in pounds?

[stinkypew]

For what it's worth, I defend malpractice cases, and this doesn't sound like a totally meritless claim if she can actually prove some damages. That's a huge kid.

[MotleyGirl70]

LOL!

Don't they give a shot of something for the pain during child birth?

[riley1992]

And there was no pain. Of course, I'm his dad.

LOL

[MotleyGirl70]

You FReepers are funny even funny this early in the morning.

[riley1992]

She had better come up with something better than incontinence as far as complications go. That is a large baby no doubt, but an old boyfriend of mine was just over 11 lbs. at birth and his mother made it through without suing anyone.

[MotleyGirl70]

Ouch!

I was only 5 pounds. I was in an incubater (sp?) for two weeks though. I turned out okay....I think. :)