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Texas Hospital Failed to Treat Ectopic Pregnancy Correctly, Investigation Reveals

HealthTexas Hospital Failed to Treat Ectopic Pregnancy Correctly, Investigation Reveals

Key Takeaways:

  • A Texas hospital failed to properly treat a woman with an ectopic pregnancy, leading to serious health complications.
  • The CMS investigation found that the hospital did not follow its own protocols, leading to a misdiagnosis.
  • The hospital’s failure to screen and diagnose correctly resulted in the patient requiring emergency surgery.
  • The incident was initially blamed on Texas’ pro-life laws, but the CMS report shows the issue was hospital error.

A shocking investigative report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) details how a Texas hospital failed to properly care for a woman experiencing an ectopic pregnancy. The incident occurred in February 2023 at Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital. Kyleigh Thurman, the patient, faced delayed treatment, which worsened her condition and required emergency surgery.

While some blamed Texas’ pro-life laws for the lack of care, the CMS investigation found that the hospital’s mistakes were the real cause.


Failure to Follow Hospital Protocols

The CMS investigation focused on how the hospital handled Thurman’s case. When she arrived at the emergency room with symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, such as vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping, she underwent an ultrasound. The results showed no evidence of a pregnancy inside the uterus and a suspicious mass near the fallopian tube. These findings should have immediately alerted doctors to the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy.

Hospital policy clearly states that patients with such symptoms and ultrasound results should be evaluated by an OB/GYN. However, the CMS report revealed that this did not happen. Thurman’s medical records show no evidence of proper screening for risks like ectopic pregnancy.

The ER doctor consulted with an OB/GYN over the phone instead of ensuring she was seen in person, which goes against hospital rules. Thurman was discharged with a diagnosis of miscarriage, despite clear signs of a potential ectopic pregnancy.


Misdiagnosis Led to Severe Complications

When Thurman returned to the hospital days later, her condition had worsened dramatically. Her fallopian tube had ruptured, leading to internal bleeding. She required surgery to remove the fallopian tube and address the bleeding.

This delayed care could have been avoided if the hospital had followed its protocols. Thurman later filed a complaint, accusing the hospital of failing to provide proper care.


The Role of Texas’ Pro-Life Laws

Thurman initially believed that Texas’ pro-life laws were to blame for the delayed treatment. However, the CMS report made it clear that the laws were not the issue. Texas law explicitly allows medical intervention for ectopic pregnancies, as they are not considered abortions.

In fact, state law permits doctors to treat ectopic pregnancies to save the patient’s life. The problem in this case was the hospital’s failure to follow its own rules, not the pro-life laws.


CMS Report Highlights Critical Failures

The CMS report outlined several crucial failures by the hospital:

  1. Failure to properly screen Thurman for known risks associated with her symptoms and test results.
  2. Failure to follow hospital policies requiring an in-person evaluation by an OB/GYN for patients with suspicious ultrasounds.
  3. Failure to document key parts of Thurman’s exam, such as checking for tenderness or palpable masses.

The report concluded that these failures put Thurman’s health at serious risk, leading to her worsened condition.


What This Means Moving Forward

This case highlights the importance of hospitals following their own protocols to ensure patient safety. It also shows the need for clear communication between medical teams to prevent misdiagnoses.

While Texas’ pro-life laws were initially blamed, the CMS report makes it clear that the issue was not the law but the hospital’s failure to act appropriately. This case serves as a reminder that proper training and adherence to medical guidelines are critical in emergency situations.

The CMS findings also emphasize that Texas’ pro-life laws do not prevent doctors from treating ectopic pregnancies. In fact, such treatments are explicitly allowed under state law.


A Wake-Up Call for Hospitals

This incident is a wake-up call for hospitals to review their policies and ensure that all patients receive the care they need. For Thurman, the delayed treatment had life-changing consequences. Her story is a reminder that following proper medical protocols is essential to preventing similar tragedies in the future.

The CMS report also serves as a clarification amid ongoing debates about pro-life laws. It shows that medical negligence, not legal restrictions, was the cause of this devastating outcome.

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