NORTHAMPTON — A medical tribunal ruled Thursday that there is sufficient evidence for a 2015 wrongful death lawsuit against Cooley Dickinson Hospital to proceed.
In medical malpractice lawsuits, a tribunal consisting of a judge, a medical doctor and an attorney who are not involved in the case hear arguments and determine if there is enough evidence for the suit to continue against each of the defendants.
Pamela Sampson, 32, of Hadley, died from complications during pregnancy while she was a patient at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in 2013. The case is expected to be tried in 2018, according to Hampshire Superior Court records.
In the lawsuit filed in August 2015, her family alleges hospital staff were negligent in their care for Sampson and ignored obvious warning signs that the woman was suffering from pre-eclampsia — a potentially fatal complication of pregnancy — and then failed to provide proper care.
The suit also alleges that hospital staff misled family members even though Sampson was “beyond recovery,” and airlifted her for “no valid medical reason” to a Boston hospital.
The suit names seven defendants — most of whom are medical staff at the hospital — in addition to Cooley Dickinson, according to court records.
The tribunal, composed of Judge Daniel Ford, Dr. David Cramer and attorney Gary Ensor, determined there was sufficient evidence against all but one of the defendants — Dr. Navneet Marwaha.
“We would like the defendants to acknowledge responsibility,” Stella Xanthakos, the Northampton attorney representing the Sampsons, said outside the courtroom. “That would mean a lot for the family.”
Cooley Dickinson spokeswoman Christina Trinchero has said the hospital does not comment on ongoing litigation.
This is just one of several legal actions involving the Cooley Dickinson Childbirth Center.
Deirdre and Christopher McDaniel, of South Hadley, filed a lawsuit in March in Hampshire Superior Court alleging that doctors neglected to explain the risks associated with vaginal birth after a previous delivery by cesarean section. That is how Deirdre McDaniel had her first child, according to court records.
As a result, the McDaniels allege that their daughter Ansleigh was born with cerebral palsy.
A medical tribunal hearing for the McDaniels’ suit has not yet been scheduled.
At least five other serious incidents – including three fatalities, two of them infants – between 2012 and early 2014 prompted a state Department of Public Health investigation.
Following the state investigation, Cooley Dickinson officials said they implemented measures meant to prevent staff fatigue and improve communication and training in the Childbirth Center. The hospital also was required to submit a corrective action plan to DPH.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.