Physicians Miss Infant Group B Strep Infection
The following is from a reported case involving Group B Strep As the report shows sometimes having for than one doctors results in errors as opposed to the consensus on diagnosis and proper treatment. First, the obstetrician who delivered the infant failed to take any action despite the fact that the infant showed symptoms consistent with a Group B Strep infection.
This same doctor thus did not report the existence of the worrisome symptoms to any of the physicians who would care for the child after transfer to the nursery. To compound the problem, the pediatrician who made rounds at the nursery likewise failed to take any action even though the baby was in respiratory distress.
In only a few hours, the newborn went into respiratory and cardiac arrest and consequently was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. As reported by the law firm that helped the family with this lawsuit, the family recover a settlement of $5.7 Million.