The Virginian Pilot recently reported that a former Virginia obstetrician is practicing in North Carolina after repeatedly injuring babies during deliveries in Virginia. The Pilot reported that Dr. Enrique Tomeu practiced in a Virginia Beach obstetrics group until 2004 when he abruptly closed his office and left the area. Dr. Tomeu was sued 7 times for similar injuries to babies during child birth. The injury is called shoulder dystocia. When this injury occurs it often involves larger babies. The baby’s shoulders can get stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone during delivery. In that position the nerves that connect the shoulder, arm and hand to the spinal cord can be stretched, pulled out or torn. This injury can result in a disorder known as “Erb’s Palsy” a form of paralysis. This injury can result in permanent disabling of the shoulder, arm and hand.
According to Virginia Beach Circuit Court records, Dr. Tomeu was sued 7 times in Virginia for inflicting similar injuries during deliveries. After Tomeu left Virginia he practiced in New Zealand for a year. While in New Zealand, a coroner found him partially responsible for a baby’s death. After being relieved of his duties in New Zealand, the practitioner ended up in North Carolina where is practicing now.
The Pilot previously reported that despite reform in the medical malpractice reporting, there are still doctors managing to go under the radar. The individual that suffers the most is the new patient who has no knowledge of their doctor’s malpractice history.
At our law firm, we handle all types of personal injury cases. We have personally handled many shoulder distocia cases which are the exact types of injuries reported in this article. If you or someone you love has been injured in by malpractice please call us for a free consultation. We will do everything we can to ensure that your rights and interests are served.