DOCS Perform C-Section on Non-Pregnant Woman
Read Time:2 Minute, 21 Second
Here is yet another example of, according to the Republicans, America having the “best health care in the world.” When I first heard this story I couldn’t believe it so I had to go hunting for it. Here is the shocking tale of incompetence:
The North Carolina Medical Board says doctors and interns at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center attempted to induce labor on a patient, but when that didn’t work, they performed a cesarean section only to find out there was no baby.
The incident happened in November 2008, but the state medical board spent the past year reviewing the case. In January, they issued the two doctors involved letters of concern.
ABC11 Eyewitness News spoke with one of the doctors involved who explained how something so bizarre could have happened.
Doctor Gerianne Geszler was in charge of the doctors on duty at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center the night of the incident.
Geszler says several doctors had examined and attempted to induce labor on the patient for several days before the C-section incident.
“They did an epidural on her and when they opened up and made the incision, they saw a non-pregnant uterus,” Geszler said.
At that point the doctors “closed her back up.”
Doctor Dorette Grant is the physician who performed the C-section.
The NC Medical Board issued her a letter of concern that said in part, “you attempted to perform a cesarean section delivery on Patient A after a failed attempt at induction of labor.”
“At the time of surgery, it was discovered that Patient A was not pregnant,” Board President Donald E. Jablonski said in the letter.
Dr. Geszler says an intern made the original diagnosis.
“And so she said she did an ultrasound and she said no heart beat,” Geszler said. “So [the patient] convinced the resident that she wanted to be induced at Cape Fear Valley, so the resident said can I induce here and I said okay.”
According to the medical board, the initial diagnosis was made by healthcare providers without the necessary experience to make the appropriate diagnosis.
“Your inappropriate reliance on their diagnosis and the failure to conduct your own examination were contributing factors in the unnecessary attempt at a caesarian delivery,” said Jablonski in a letter to Geszler.
The patient was actually suffering from pseudocyesis, symptoms associated with pregnancy even though they are not pregnant. The false pregnancy can be caused by changes in the body and hormones, emotional distress or an endocrine disorder.
The hospital administration didn’t want to comment on the incident.
Meanwhile, both doctors continue to practice in Fayetteville. Dr. Geszler is still a gynecologist, but doesn’t deliver babies anymore.
Doctor Grant is still an OBGYN, but she was unable to speak with ABC11 Wednesday, because she was busy delivering two babies.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
Now I have three aching cheeks…;-)
And so you should old bean 🙂
Was the woman obese? Let’s face it, too many Bic Macs and it could have been quads!
I know you are saying this with your English tongue firmly planted in your cheek but you do have a point.
This is one of those dinky back water hospitals near Fayetteville which probably doesn’t get used much because most people around there are at Ft Bragg, but still…
Geez! The local vet probably would have done a better job since dogs sometimes have false pregnancies.
Did not the brain trust with the ultra sound not see that not only was there no heart beat but there was NO FETUS!?!
Truly bizarre…
Did I use too many negatives in one sentence?
LOL! I think you did just fine Rocky. Thanks for the background on the most aptly named “Cape Fear.”
It’s not a joke, is it? Gods… I didn’t think, what with all our technology available just to scan, ultrasound, etc. that something like this was a possibility…? Gee. Poor girl.
Not a joke Gwen.
Cap Fear Valley Medical Center, if needing medical attention in that town, the key word is “Fear.”
LOL! I think there was a movie about Cape Fear, a couple of them. One starred Robert Mitchum and I think the latest one starred Robert De Niro…I think. We need a movie reviewer!
That is just bizarre.
I thought it was a joke at first. Then verified it and thought of the words of George Takei…”Oh My!”
Yeah, now that is an example of a great medical system,
Yup! But we are the best. No health care reform needed here. Tea anyone?