Missouri wife bleeds to death during dilation and curettage; plaintiff awarded $1.2M settlement

Plaintiff's 49-year-old decedent wife underwent dilation and curettage performed by defendant doctor on January 12th, 2000. Although defendant started the procedure under a local anesthetic, at some point he decided to continue under general anesthesia. Extensive bleeding occurred during the procedure, leading to a lack of blood supply to the brain.

Decedent wife had to be resuscitated. She then died of irreversible brain damage on February 22nd.

Plaintiff's medical lawsuit claimed that the risk of bleeding should have been anticipated and prepared for before the surgery. Plaintiff noted that his wife had a history of diabetes that made her dangerously prone to bleeding. Plaintiff further noted that decedent's hematocrit and hemoglobin levels taken a couple of days prior to the procedure were both low and should have alerted defendants to the potential significance of bleeding during surgery.

Published accounts reveal that the obstetrician/gynecologist and anesthesiologists settled for $1.2 million, while the hospital settled for an undisclosed sum.