State: Rare Medical Complication Claimed Woman’s Life
Maternity Death Was Hospital’s First In Decade
POSTED: 5:32 pm EST February 12,
2009
UPDATED: 6:01 pm EST February 12,
2009
Email
Print
BOSTON -- An investigation into the death of a maternity patient at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center last October has found that she died from a rare medical complication. State documents show that the medical examiner determined that Karen Vasquez, 37, of Medford, died of pulmonary amniotic fluid embolism. Documents show the manner of death was “natural.”Vasquez arrived at the medical center in labor in the early hours of Oct. 17, 2008. After many hours of labor, doctors performed an emergency Caesarean section.Vasquez delivered a baby girl, who survived.The report states her husband and sister were by her side when she died, approximately 13 hours after arriving at the hospital.Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center conducted its own internal investigation of what it called at the time a "sad and very rare event." They have not yet responded to NewsCenter 5’s requests for a statement in light of the state’s findings.The medical center said it delivers approximately 5,000 babies each year, and this was its first maternity death in more than a decade.
State: Rare Medical Complication Claimed Woman’s LifeCopyright 2009 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
