A couple that has filed a lawsuit against AdventHealth Ocala is alleging that the organization’s medical staff was negligent in the delivery of their infant, causing “severe birth injuries.”
The lawsuit was filed in the fifth judicial circuit court of Marion County by Orlando-based attorney Anthony F. Sos on behalf of his clients, Sarah and Daniel Reaves, against AdventHealth Ocala and multiple defendants who allegedly “provided gynecological and obstetrical services” to Mrs. Reaves.
According to the complaint, Mrs. Reaves received prenatal care and treatment from AdventHealth Medical Group Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ocala and its medical staff in the weeks leading up to the birth of her child.
During the course of her treatment, Reaves was allegedly diagnosed with “uncontrolled Type A2 gestational diabetes, pregnancy induced hypertension, anemia, and protein in urine,” according to the complaint.
As a result of the diagnoses, the complaint indicates that medical staff scheduled labor induction “at the gestational age of 38.4.”
Reaves was admitted to AdventHealth Ocala for labor induction on March 2, 2021, and her care “was assigned” to a certified nurse-midwife, according to the complaint. That midwife was allegedly tasked with performing the physical examination, labor induction, and delivery.
During Reaves’ labor, the complaint says an abnormal fetal heart rate was noted, with “evidence of variable decelerations, tachycardia, and decreased 02.”
The complaint alleges that Reaves’ delivery was “complicated by shoulder dystocia,” and that her daughter sustained “significant trauma including molding, swelling, overriding sutures and facial bruising,” as well as “injury of the cervical plexus.”
Reaves’ attorney argues that medical staff was negligent in “failing to recognize and/or appreciate the significant risk of a patient with” Reaves’ diagnoses.
The complaint says that, as a result of “deviations from the appropriate standards of care,” Reaves’ daughter suffered “severe birth injuries” that included “Erb’s paralysis, injury of cervical sympathetic nerves, and injury of left brachial plexus.”
The complaint goes on to state that the alleged negligence has resulted in the child suffering from “physical and mental pain and suffering, impairment, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish” and a “loss of the capacity for the enjoyment of life.”
“Those losses are permanent within a reasonable degree of medical probability,” reads the complaint. It says that the child will “continue to suffer them in the future.”
The lawsuit asks the court for judgement for “compensatory damages, costs, interests as allowed by law” and demands a “trial by jury of all triable issues.”
According to court records, summons were served to the defendants last week. No additional filings have been made with the court since September 14.