A couple has filed a birth related injuries lawsuit, alleging their baby died after the mom received inadequate care and the anesthesiologist didn’t show.

Plaintiffs Correnia P. and Shawn H. were the parents of infant boy Corbin. Their lawsuit alleges Highlands Regional Medical Center (HRMC), Highlands Health System (HHS) and Raymond J. Monaco, Jr., M.D. were to blame for Corbin’s death.

The couple alleges Correnia went to the emergency room of HRMC on Jan. 2, 2017, about seven days prior to Corbin’s due date. She was experiencing leaking fluid, sudden onset of severe pain, increased contractions and a decrease in fetal movement, the complaint says.

She alleges her medical records on file with HRMC noted that Correnia was considered a high risk patient because she had experienced complications with a previous birth that had included the need for vacuum-assisted delivery.

A vacuum-assisted delivery involves the use of a medical vacuum pump that that helps guide the baby out of the birth canal. If labor has not progressed the way it should, a soft cup is applied to the baby’s head and the vacuum extraction helps bring the baby out of the birth canal.

Correnia says her history of needing such assistance with a prior birth placed her in the high risk category for obstetrical care.

The complaint says that on Jan. 2, the emergency room doctor transferred Correnia to the labor and delivery unite of the hospital, where she allegedly received “inadequate monitoring by HRMC, HHS and their agents for approximately four hours.”

The obstetrician who was on call at the time allegedly discharged Correnia “at approximately 9:28 p.m., despite non-reassuring monitoring information regarding Corbin.”

The couple says that just hours later, at about 2:53 a.m. on Jan. 3, Correnia returned to HRMC because of increased severe pain. A fetal monitor purportedly found fetal distress, and Correnia allegedly needed an emergency C-section because of placental abruption.

Birth Related Injuries Allegations Against Anesthesiologist

The doctor performing the C-section allegedly asked for Dr. Raymond J. Monaco to be called in as an anesthesiologist. The birth related injuries lawsuit alleges that Dr. Monaco refused to come to HRMC, and the C-section was allegedly performed while Correnia was restrained and only local anesthesia was used.

The couple says Corbin was born by C-section at about 3:25 a.m. on Jan. 3 and needed immediate resuscitation. He was airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center, where he eventually died on Jan. 6.

Correnia says she was discharged from HRMC on Jan. 5 after she had to receive a blood transfusion and antibiotics because of alleged non-sterile conditions that existed during her C-section. Even after the prophylactic treatment, Correnia alleges she developed a serious infection that required additional antibiotics.

Allegations against Dr. Monaco fault him for failing to appear at HRMC when he was on call. The couple argues his absence required Correnia to undergo the C-section with only local anesthesia.

“Dr. Monaco’s deviations from the standard of care directly and proximately caused permanent injuries to [Correnia] as well as Corbin’s death,” alleges the birth injury complaint.

The Birth Related Injuries Lawsuit is Case No. 7:19-cv-00015-KKC in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Floyd Circuit Court.