Mother Says Doc Misread Ultrasound

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (CN) - A mother claims she did not have the option of aborting her baby because of a birth defect, because the doctor failed to properly read an ultrasound. The mother claims she would have aborted her pregnancy if she knew that her baby suffered from amniotic band syndrome.

She claims that Dr. Samuel Essma interpreted her Feb. 23, 2006 ultrasound as normal, and said that the child's extremities were only "partially visible."

He failed to order more ultrasounds to confirm that all four of the child's extremities were present and failed to diagnose the amniotic band syndrome, the mother claims in Madison County Court.

"As a direct and proximate result of the foregoing negligent act or omission on the part of the defendant as aforesaid, plaintiff's unborn child's disorder went undiscovered and undiagnosed; consequently, the plaintiff was denied that opportunity to discover her unborn child's disorder, and thus denied the chance to terminate her pregnancy," the complaint states.

"Had she learned of the disorder, she so would have terminated. Instead, she gave birth to a child with amniotic band syndrome. Plaintiff has, is, and will continue to incur extraordinary expenses for medical, hospital, institutional, educational and other expenses required to manage and treat her child's disorder, and otherwise provide for her child, all to her damage in a substantial amount."

Amniotic band syndrome is a set of congenital birth defects believed to be caused by entrapment of fetal parts, usually a limb or digits, in fibrous amniotic bands while in utero, according to amnioticbandsyndrome.com. The condition often results in deformed or disfigured hands, fingers, feet and toes.

The mother seeks damages for malpractice. She is represented by Thomas Keefe of Belleville, Ill.

Dr. Essma, Midwest Associates Radiological, and Alton Memorial Hospital are named as defendants.

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