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Medical Malpractice, Hospital Malpractice, Professional Negligence

Repeated Allegations Spur State Board to Suspend Physician's License

Calling a 59-year-old obstetrician and gynecologist an “immediate and serious threat to public health,” the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine suspended the medical license of Dr. Suzanne B. Rothchild. The Board acted after reviewing nine cases against the doctor. In addition, the physician’s malpractice insurance company last fall announced it would no longer insure the physician with new patients.

Middlesex County Court records revealed to the Board Dr. Rothchild was sued 12 times for alleged medical malpractice over the past 15 years, including four times the last three years. The Board said Dr. Rothchild paid “above-average” settlements in four recent malpractice suits. During that time, Winchester Hospital had disciplined her twice, including once when she was given a six-month restriction that required her to consult with a doctor when patients were admitted and to attend a course in fetal monitoring.

"This is an enormous number of cases for a single physician," said Andrew Meyer, a medical malpractice specialist at Lubin & Meyer law firm in Boston, who represented several plaintiffs in actions against Rothchild, including a 1997 case involving an infant born with brain damage in which his client received a multimillion-dollar settlement. "Although many doctors have malpractice actions brought against them, there's a clear significance in the number of cases here. The board very rarely does this."

In 2000, expectant mother Carrol Rexrode criticized Dr. Rothchild for leaving her in order to go to lunch. Rexrode said that resulted in the loss of her daughter. Baby Bailey Marie died 45 minutes after Rexrode gave birth by Caesarean section. Rexrode said her daughter would have survived had she been delivered one-to-three hours earlier. Rexrode sued Dr. Rothchild and settled out of court.

Two years later, the Board alleged Rothchild again erred by failing to monitor a fetus properly, resulting in a nonresponsive baby at birth. And last year the Board alleged Rothchild was at fault when a patient of hers’ had her placenta detach from the uterus wall, allegedly resulting in a baby born unable to breathe.

Then last fall, her malpractice insurer refused coverage with “new” patients.

Rothchild's lawyer, Peter Kelley said, "What makes the Board action troublesome for all physicians is that it has no medical opinion or evidence that my client posed a threat to public safety." The attorney said Rothchild will appeal the Board’s action.

http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2008/03/13/
state_suspends_obstetricians_license/