Anaheim obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Andrew Rutland could be facing temporary suspension from practicing medicine. Rutland allegedly was negligent when he administered an unsafe dosage of lidocaine to a 30-year-old woman who was about to undergo a second-trimester abortion. Soon after the patient was injected with the local anesthesia, she began to experience a reaction.
Rutland performed CPR on her. According to California Medical Board documents, there was a "significant" delay in contacting 911. By the time paramedics arrived, the woman was in cardiac arrest. She died several days later.
According to autopsy results, the patient died from a heart attack caused by "lidocaine toxicity." The medical board claims Rutland did not know what a safe dosage of the anesthesia consisted of when he gave her the drug. He also allegedly did not recognize the symptoms of toxicity and failed to employ the correct resuscitation efforts.
The Anaheim doctor is also accused of not having malpractice insurance when he performed a surgery outside a hospital and practicing medicine in an office that did not have the proper licensing. This is not the first time that Dr. Rutland has been accused of California medical negligence. He gave up his medical license in 2002 following two infant deaths (one baby's spinal cord was torn during birth due to forceps use), and allegations that he lied to patients, had sex with one patient, and performed unnecessary hysterectomies.
Examples of OB/GYN Malpractice:
• Poor prenatal care
• Failure to conduct breast exams, annuals, or mammograms
• Failure to diagnose, wrong diagnosis, or delayed diagnosis of cancer
• Failure to diagnose birth defects or delivery complications
• Failure to perform necessary follow-up tests, such as a biopsy
• Birthing malpractice
• Surgical errors
• Forcep mistakes
• Anesthesia errors
Doc lost license once, accused of another death, OC Register, January 6, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Medical Board of California
Obstetrics and Medical Malpractice, Wrong Diagnosis
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