NEW ORLEANS – A woman has filed a lawsuit against a physician alleging her child died during pregnancy and that the physician mishandled the delivery, resulting in the decapitation of the child and causing both her and her mother psychological trauma.
Plaintiffs Vernishia Thomas and Charmaine Thomas filed the lawsuit in federal court against Susan Sterlacci, M.D., Continental Casualty Insurance Company and CHG Healthcare Services citing allegations of negligence.
According to court documents, on February 19, 2021, at 10:20 p.m., Vernishia Thomas, who was pregnant at the time and only in the 21st week of pregnancy, presented herself to the North Oaks Medical Center in Louisiana for lower abdominal pain. She says there was no bleeding or leaking fluid. A vaginal exam detected a bulging bag of water, which indicates an active phase of labor. An ultrasound detected a breech presentation, and a nurse explained that delivery might be imminent.
According to the lawsuit, the child died between 7:20 and 8:45 a.m. before it could be delivered. At approximately 9:00 a.m., Sterlacci, the attending physician, attempted a vaginal delivery. During the procedure, Sterlacci allegedly applied excessive force to the child's body, causing the deceased infant's head to become separated from its body. Vernishia says she and her mother, Charmaine Thomas, were traumatized when they saw her infant's headless body. Sterlacci attempted to deliver the infant's head but was unable to do so for about 30 minutes until an obstetrician was called in to assist.
The plaintiffs say Sterlacci's actions were negligent and constituted gross negligence, leading to severe emotional distress, mental anguish, and psychological trauma for both Vernishia and her mother, Charmaine.
The plaintiffs are seeking a judgment for damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress. They are represented by Michael J. Ecuyer and Rachel M. Naquin of Gainsborough, Benjamin, David, Meunier & Warshauer in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:23-cv-06433