Kentucky doctor botched baby's delivery as he fretted about missing vacation flight

[left-of-center2012]

A Kentucky doctor attending to a woman in labor talked of possibly missing his vacation flight before using forceps to try to deliver the baby, causing extreme bruising to the infant’s head, witnesses told state medical regulators. The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure filed a complaint last week against Dr. Gerald W. Thorpe as a result of the incident at T.J. Samson Community Hospital in Glasgow.

Witnesses told the licensure board that the mother was doing fine trying to push during delivery and that the baby showed no signs of distress on the monitor, but the delivery was going slow. Thorpe came to check on the mother, he told the parents he could either pass them off to another doctor ... or he could use forceps to help with the delivery “because he has a plane to catch.”

John Craddock, another physician, told the licensure board Thorpe said, “If I don’t put a forceps or vacuum on, I will miss my flight.” Thorpe pulled three times with the forceps, a device shaped like a large pair of large spoons that fit round the baby’s head. Forceps deliveries carry risks to the mother and baby, though serious injuries to infants are rare, according to the Mayo Clinic. Thorpe said after the third pull that there was a prolapsed umbilical cord, Austin said. That is a condition that can cut off oxygen to to the baby and is considered an emergency. At this point there was no longer a heartbeat detected on the monitor.

Craddock said to get the mother to the operating room, witnesses said. Thorpe told Craddock, “I need you to do this C-section, I have to leave for vacation”. Craddock did the operation, delivering a “very unresponsive” baby. The baby had no heartbeat and wasn’t breathing. Nurses worked for four minutes and 30 seconds to resuscitate him before detecting a heartbeat. Craddock said when he checked on the baby, his head was extremely bruised and his skin was pale gray. The baby began having seizure-like activity. The complaint by the licensure board did not say what ultimately happened to him.

https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2021/08/kentucky-doctor-botched-babys-delivery-as-he-fretted-about-missing-vacation-flight-according-to-complaint.html

[Demovictory9]

1. horrible

[milestogo]

2. Gee, don't the airlines offer later flights?

This doctor had many ways to handle this without risking the baby's life.

[Aristus]

3. Ever wonder what the doctor who graduates last in his class goes on to do?

Smooth move there, asshole...

[Farmer-Rick]

4. I know a lot of doctors like this

But they hide it better than this guy.

This is how capitalism corrupts the medical establishment. It's no longer about patients and saving lives or stopping suffering. It's about making money and enjoying the luxuries from it.

Though some doctors and nurses go into the profession for humanity's sake, like the doctors and nurses who are treating Covid-19 patients. But there are still a lot of them who are all about money and the luxuries it provides.

Medical Licensure boards try to enforce some basic compassion, but they only address the most grievous problems.

[Haggard Celine]

5. My mom's doctor used the forceps on me when I was born.

My dad raised holy hell when he saw me with my head all bruised up. Some people say that explains a lot.

[jimfields33]

7. My doctor used forceps on me too.

I still have small indents three inches from my eyes because of it. Hardly can tell, but I can.

[madaboutharry]

6. Why didn't this asshole just take the day off if he had to catch a flight.

He is an idiot. Most people, you don't even need to be a doctor, will start their vacation day on the day they are leaving.

They must have been in a state where they weren't able to make a good decision, but the parents would have been in a better place opting for a different doctor since this doctor was already letting them know he didn't care about them or their baby. Someone should have encouraged them to fire this guy's ass right there.