Doctor Denies Malpractice in Not Performing Caesarean

As reported by the Warren Tribune Chronicle, Dr. Tara Shipmen didn't see the need in performing a caesarean section on her patient, Debra Cobb, during the birth of Cobb's daughter Haley in January of 2000, because there was no evidence to necessitate it.

Shipman's own attorneys questioned her on her judgment, during her second time to testify in the medical malpractice trial.  She contended that there were no signs of distress with Haley during the delivery.

Relying on the fetal monitor that was hooked up to Mrs. Cobb, in the hours before Haley was delivered, there was no data from the machine to indicate Cobb required anything other than a normal vaginal delivery.

The multi-million dollar civil suit is being tried before Trumball County Pleas Court by Judge W. Wyatt McKay.

Debra Cobb, and her husband Okey Cobb, allege that Shipman's decision not to perform a caesarean lead to Haley not receiving enough oxygen at birth - and left her with cerebral palsy for life.

Shipman told jurors that tests performed on both Mrs. Cobb and Haley were all within the normal ranges and elicited no signs of any problems.

Two witnesses have testified that Shipman did fail. One expert said that Haley's injury had to have occurred due to medically induced contractions and Shipman's use of a vacuum for the delivery. A second witness said that a caesarean was called for.

Mrs. Cobb had a nonstress test on January 3, 2000 - as she was overdue - and admitted to Trumbull Memorial Hospital that same day. She didn't give birth until 3:48 a.m. on January 4.

Shipman said that a normal delivery is always preferable to a surgical cesarean section. Shipman testified that right before she was born, Haley's head was beginning to show.  She would have had to take the baby and run her back through the birth canal to perform a cesarean section. 

Mrs. Cobb had been pushing for more than two hours when she grew tired.  Shipman, in an attempt to make things easier for Cobb, used the vacuum to try and speed the process up a little.  She said that it is a very common tool used during delivery.

In explaining why she felt using the vacuum on Haley was necessary Shipman said, "It was already on its way out."

Shipman admitted to leaving Trumbull several times during Mrs. Cobb's labor. She contends that nurses always kept her informed of Cobb's condition. She also stated she called herself to check in.

Debra Cobb stated in her testimony that Haley came out feet first - purple feet. She also came out without the usual crying.  This alerted the new mother and later, when her baby was taken to Tod's Children Hospital in Youngstown, she heard Haley's first cry when she was three days old. 

Attorneys for the Cobbs have already settled their cases against the hospital and the estate of Dr. Edmundo Salero.  Salero, the anesthesiologist in the delivery, has been blamed for placing the wrong size tube to intubate Haley.

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