In the case of Angelle Fitch and Michael Fitch, individually and on behalf of their minor son, Elias Fitch versus Dr. Charon Gentile, Heather Fanguy, N.P., and Hospital Service District #1, Parish of Terrebonne, d/b/a Terrebonne General Medical Center (Case ID: 2023 CA 0595), the plaintiffs have appealed a district court judgment dismissing their medical malpractice claims against the defendants. The judgment was passed by the Court of Appeal, First Circuit in Louisiana on March 5th, 2022.
The lawsuit revolves around a complicated childbirth that took place under the care of Dr. Charon Gentile at Terrebonne General Medical Center. The legal representatives for the plaintiffs are Ravi K. Sangisetty, William Boyles, Parker N. Hutchinson, and Amanda J. Olmstead while Nicholas Gachassin III and John D. Schoonenberg represent Dr. Charon Gentile.
The incident occurred when Mrs. Fitch was admitted to Terrebonne General Medical Center due to potential complications with her pregnancy including elevated blood pressure and breech presentation of the baby. Despite a successful version procedure to reposition the baby's head first for delivery, complications arose during labor resulting in shoulder dystocia - a situation where the baby's shoulder gets stuck behind the mother's pubic bone after its head is delivered.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for alleged medical malpractice during childbirth which resulted in respiratory distress and immobility in their newborn son's left arm due to shoulder dystocia encountered during delivery.