NMH Sued Over Death

Woman says labor-inducing drug not OK'd

May 29, 2003 | Traverse City Record Eagle A Bellaire woman who lost her baby after an induced-labor procedure at Northern Michigan Hospital in October 2000 has filed a $10 million malpractice suit against the hospital and obstetricians and nurse-midwives involved.

Among the claims made by Marcia Downs in her lawsuit is that she was given the drug Cytotec to induce labor. The drug's only approved use is for peptic ulcer disease and it is not approved by either the Food and Drug Administration or the drug's manufacturer for labor induction, according to the lawsuit.

Northern Michigan Hospital spokesman Thomas Spencer said the facility has not yet been served with the lawsuit and declined comment.

Downs, said in the lawsuit that the hospital, doctors and nurses involved in the delivery should have known that Cytotec has "potentially dangerous and serious side effects, and acute risks, such as fetal death."

Downs' infant daughter, Natasha, lived for a few hours after delivery by Cesarean section before dying on Oct. 23, 2000, at the hospital. The cause of death, according to the lawsuit, was hypoxia and severe birth asphyxia.