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WILKES-BARRE — A newborn suffered permanent brain damage during a Cesarean birth last year at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, a lawsuit filed Thursday alleges.

The lawsuit was filed in Luzerne County Court by Philadelphia attorneys Charles Hehmeyer and Martina W. McLaughlin on behalf of parents Stormie and John Adams of Tobyhanna and their 8-month-old daughter, Cataleya.

According to the complaint, Stormie Adams was 39 weeks pregnant with her second child when she was admitted to Geisinger Wyoming Valley in active labor Nov. 7.

Though the Adamses were unaware of any dangers, the staff knew Stormie Adams had a previous Cesarean that put her at risk for uterine rupture, the complaint says. Due to the risks, the standard of care requires careful monitoring for signs of distress and timely preparing for an emergency C-section, the complaint alleges.

The attending obstetrician, Dr. Brian Murray Jr., ordered continuous monitoring, but nurse Spring Chamberlain disconnected the fetal monitor without Murray’s consent so Stormie Adams could use the bathroom, the complaint says.

During the time Stormie Adams was disconnected from the monitor — about 13 minutes — she described her pain level as eight on a scale of 10, which should have been a warning sign for uterine rupture, the complaint says. When she was reconnected, the fetal heart rate “dropped dramatically” and the monitoring strips revealed “a dangerous fetal heart rate pattern requiring immediate delivery.”

Dr. Murray called for the emergency C-section after Stormie Adams related she was in distress when attempting to push, the lawsuit states. He informed Stormie Adams after the delivery that she had suffered a partial uterine rupture.

After delivery, Cataleya was listed in critical condition and needed to be transferred to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville.

“As a result of the carelessness and negligence of the defendants … Cataleya Adams has suffered severe and permanent brain damage,” the complaint says.

Geisinger did not immediately return a request for comment.

The lawsuit seeks damages for loss of future earnings and expenses related to the medical treatment.

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By Joe Dolinsky

jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com

Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL