Parents awarded $2M after ultrasound misinterpretation leads to child's stillbirth

A Florida jury has awarded $2 million to the parents of a stillborn infant after determining that an alleged misinterpretation of a 20-week fetal anatomy ultrasound contributed to the child's death, according to the family's attorneys. 

The medical malpractice lawsuit centered on a prenatal anatomy ultrasound. The scan was interpreted by a radiologist with Radiology Regional, located in Lee County, Florida. Notes from the sonographer who completed the scan detail a struggle to visualize the baby's face, nose and lips, but the radiologist who interpreted the exam did not report any facial or oral abnormalities.  

The plaintiffs argued that had the severe facial deformity been identified on the ultrasound and disclosed to the parents, the mother's care would have been transferred from a midwife to an obstetrician in accordance with the standard of care. The mother later developed preeclampsia at 38 weeks gestation and delivered the baby stillborn. Following delivery, physicians identified a severe cleft deformity that had not been diagnosed during prenatal imaging. 

After a weeklong trial, jurors returned a seven-figure verdict in favor of the plaintiffs. According to the family's attorneys, the radiology group did not offer to settle the case before or during the trial. To that note, the defense argued that responsibility rested with the treating midwife rather than the interpreting radiologist. 

"This verdict brings justice to a family who suffered a great loss," Ryan Fogg, managing partner of Fogg Law Group, said in a statement July 9. "We were able to determine that the death of this child was preventable. This verdict represents two parents who never gave up on their daughter, even after she passed." 

Read more about the case in the complaint here.