when she presented to Lakeland Medical Center and was diagnosed with premature rupture of membranes (PROM). An ultrasound showed that the fetus had a heart beat and the placenta had implanted at the site of Ms. Taylor's prior cesarean section. She was discharged on June 24 with instructions to stay on strict bed rest.
Ms. Taylor was re-admitted on June 29 for vaginal spotting. An ultrasound indicated fetal demise and delivery was induced. The fetus delivered at 12:30 p.m. on June 30. The nurse on duty was instructed by Dr. Mensah, Ms. Taylor's obstetrician, to allow the placenta to deliver on its own. The nurse noted that the placenta delivered at 1:40 p.m. She sent all of the products of conception to pathology for examination.
Dr. William Robichaux, the pathologist on duty, examined the products of conception after they were received in the Laboratory. He concluded that what the nurse had thought was the placenta was, in fact, only a blood clot, and that the placenta had not been delivered. Dr. Robichaux called Labor & Delivery to notify them of his findings. He then made two attempts to speak with Dr. Mensah, but Dr. Mensah did not return either of his calls. He then faxed a copy of his report to Dr. Mensah's office. It appears that Dr. Mensah never got any of these messages. Ms. Taylor was, apparently, discharged from the hospital.
On July 2 Ms. Taylor called Dr. Mensah's office and reported that she had vaginal bleeding and a fever. He testified that he advised her to go to the hospital, but she was unable to do so due to child care issues with her other children. She testified that he did not tell her to go to the hospital; rather, he merely prescribed antibiotics and told her to come to his office in the morning.
Dr. Mensah performed an ultrasound the next day and discovered the undelivered products of conception. He attempted to remove them by dilation and curettage, but Ms. Taylor began to hemorrhage during the procedure and an emergency hysterectomy was necessary to save her life.
Ms. Taylor brought suit against Drs. Mensah and Robichaux, as well as Lakeland Medical Center and the nurse who delivered the "placenta.