Opinion ID: 2403835
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Post-Delivery Condition Mrs. McCool Deteriorates

Text: Following the delivery, Mrs. McCool was taken to the recovery room. Her vital signs were examined and found to be normal. Her blood pressure was 80/52 and her pulse was 100. Dr. Gehret checked on Mrs. McCool before he left the hospital at 2:40 a.m. to go home. Shortly after Dr. Gehret's departure, Mrs. McCool's blood pressure declined to 75/40 and her pulse increased to 110. From 3:00 a.m. until 4:30 a.m., doctors on the Medical Center's staff took several steps in an attempt to correct Mrs. McCool's worsening condition. Nevertheless, no improvement occurred. Mrs. McCool's blood pressure dropped to 50/35 and her pulse to 95. Dr. Gehret was called at home at 4:30 a.m. He was advised of Mrs. McCool's condition by Dr. Cherie Johnson (Dr. Johnson), a resident physician on duty in the obstetrical unit. Dr. Gehret requested that certain blood tests be performed. He asked to be informed of the results. At approximately 6:30 a.m., Dr. Gehret was called at home again. He was advised that Mrs. McCool's blood tests revealed a critically low platelet count. With such a low platelet count, Mrs. McCool's blood lacked the ability to clot. Without a clotting capacity, Mrs. McCool could not have further surgery. At 6:45 a.m., Dr. Gehret authorized infusion of additional platelets to prepare Mrs. McCool to be taken back into surgery. Dr. Gehret returned to the hospital at 8:00 a.m. At 9:15 a.m., Dr. Gehret noted that Mrs. McCool was obviously having intra-abdominal hemorrhaging following the caesarian section. Mrs. McCool's platelet level eventually became re-established so that further surgery could be performed. At 10:20 a.m., Mrs. McCool was taken to the operating room. By this time, her condition was life threatening.