CT court awards mother $17.1 million after stillbirth
Key Takeaways
A jury sided with a woman whose child was delivered stillborn at Greenwich Hospital in 2015.
Greenwich Hospital, their parent company Northeast Medical Group, and two physicians providing care were all named in the lawsuit, which went to trial in August 2024.
According to the lawsuit, the mother’s cholestasis was not properly managed while under the care of Greenwich Hospital physicians, resulting in the stillbirth delivery.
A Connecticut court has ruled in favor of Jaqueline Rodezno, whose infant was delivered stillborn at Greenwich Hospital.[] Rodezno’s infant daughter, Sarai Santiago, had no heartbeat when she was delivered on June 22, 2015.[] Rodezno was awarded $17.1 million in the August 2024 trial.
In August 2017, Rodezno filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Greenwich Hospital.[]
The lawsuit also named Greenwich’s parent organization, the Northeast Medical Group, and two physicians who provided care to Rodezno: Annette Bond, MD, and Diana Adams, MD. Rodezno alleged that Greenwich Hospital was negligent in its care, and that this negligence resulted in the stillborn delivery of her daughter.
Greenwich Hospital’s labor and delivery department made headlines just a few months ago, in July 2024, when a couple filed a malpractice suit against the hospital following the death of their infant son.[]
Negligence cited
Rodezno had been receiving prenatal care at Greenwich Hospital since around December 1, 2014. On May 29, 2015, Rodezno sought care from Greenwich for full-body itching. She was diagnosed with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and prescribed ursodiol.
This treatment resulted in a return to normal bile levels, and the ursodiol was discontinued; however, Rodezno’s transaminase levels increased, and Rodezno did not experience any symptom improvement.
On June 5, 2015, Rodezno returned to Greenwich Hospital, where she presented to the emergency room with a headache and facial numbness. She was discharged following testing.[] However, 3 days later, Rodezno’s symptoms worsened, causing her to return to the hospital. Greenwich doctors provided additional treatment, and transaminases were restarted on June 17, 2015. This treatment course did not resolve Rodezno’s cholestasis.
On June 21, 2015, when Rodezno presented to Greenwich Hospital, doctors were unable to detect a fetal heartbeat. Sarai Santiago was delivered stillborn the next day; she weighed 8 pounds.[]
What the lawsuit alleges
According to the lawsuit, the hospital failed to recognize the significance of Rodezno’s abnormal liver levels, putting her fetus in danger.
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that the hospital failed to deliver Sarai Santiago at a speed that appropriately reflected the risk presented by Rodezno’s liver levels. Rodezno sought damages to cover funeral and burial expenses, medical costs, pain and suffering, and mental anguish.
Greenwich Hospital denied the claims.[] During the trial, the defendants argued that Greenwich Hospital was not liable for Santiago’s death, claiming that appropriate action had been taken by all medical providers. They also claimed that Rodezno had failed to follow medical advice, failed to follow treatments as ordered, and failed to undergo all requested testing.
The case went before a Stamford, CT, jury in August 2024. The court heard expert testimony on both sides, including from pathology expert Anna McDonald, MD. Dr. McDonald argued that an earlier delivery would likely have resulted in a live birth.
On August 8, 2024, the jury ruled in favor of Rodezno, finding Greenwich Hospital liable for the stillbirth; they awarded Rodezno $17.1 million. In a statement, attorney Stephanie Roberge, who represented Rodezno, said, “This was an extremely emotional case and we are very happy for our client and happy with the jury’s decision.”[]
Greenwich Hospital’s response
A Greenwich Hospital spokesperson expressed disagreement with the verdict in a statement: “We remain steadfast in our belief that we acted consistently with our mission, vision, values and legacy in providing care to the family, though we know that does not minimize the loss they experienced. We are disappointed in the verdict and are evaluating our options for moving forward.”[]
The Rodezno case is the second lawsuit filed against Greenwich Hospital’s labor and delivery department in recent months. In July 2024, a lawsuit was brought against the hospital alleging that the inappropriate use of assisted labor devices was at fault for the February 2024 death of Alexander Diaz.[] The infant experienced respiratory distress during labor. The use of a vacuum device was reportedly attempted at least 15 times without success. Diaz survived for only a few hours following delivery.
Diaz’s parents, Danielle Mackenzie and Fabrice Diaz, are requesting punitive damages and monetary compensation.
Birth complications and malpractice suits
Survey data has repeatedly shown that obstetricians are some of the most commonly sued medical specialists. There are multiple factors, including the risks associated with childbirth and delivery, that play a role in this. Advancements in treatments and techniques, however, have improved outcomes. These advancements won’t alleviate all errors or possible malpractice suits, but they can increase patient safety.
Additional measures, such as great patient communication, can help improve fetal and maternal safety. Kubanych Takyrbashev, MD, a public health physician with decades of experience in OB/GYN, says, “Proper pre- and postnatal care plays a vital role [in] preventing or reducing the frequency of birth complications. Women must be educated on the different danger signs and encouraged to seek help promptly. The healthcare provider should also give him time to provide care and consider women’s personal circumstances, needs, and preferences.”
Check out these articles for more best practices in the field of OB/GYN.
What this means for you
A Connecticut court awarded Jaqueline Rodezno $17.1 million in August 2024 in a medical malpractice lawsuit against Greenwich Hospital following the stillbirth of her daughter in June 2015. Rodezno alleged that the hospital's negligence in managing her pregnancy-related liver condition contributed to the tragic outcome. The hospital, which disputes the ruling, had recently faced another malpractice suit related to the death of an infant, highlighting ongoing concerns about care in its labor and delivery department.