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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Parents sue over death of baby following Cesarean delivery

BELLEVILLE – The parents of a baby who was pronounced dead shortly after a Cesarean delivery are suing a hospital and other health-care providers for allegedly failing to properly monitor the baby.

 

The mother, Gabrielle Ruijne, individually and as independent administrator of the estate of Amelia Claire Ruijne, deceased, and the father, Marcell Ruijne, filed the suit March 14 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against St. Elizabeth's Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, Saint Louis University, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation Inc., Dr. Marjorie Guthrie and Dr. Jennifer Ray.

Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation and St. Louis University operate in partnership with St. Elizabeth's Hospital.

In July 2013, the plaintiff discovered she was pregnant, and a sonogram projected the delivery date of March 10, 2014, the suit says. The plaintiff underwent the standard prenatal exams until she was scheduled for induction on March 20.

In the course of labor, it was determined the plaintiff needed a Cesarean section, according to the suit. Guthrie performed the surgery and the baby was born with a limp blue presentation. After unsuccessful efforts at resuscitation, the baby was pronounced dead, the suit says.

The plaintiffs allege the defendants negligently failed to provide properly trained physicians and nurses to monitor the plaintiff's condition, failed to properly monitor the development and status of the unborn baby, failed to perform a Cesarean in a timely manner, and failed to follow the proper protocols to attempt to resuscitate the newborn.

In addition to a trial by jury, the plaintiffs seeks judgment of at least $50,000 from each defendant plus court costs. They ares represented by Steven E. Katzman and Daniel C. Katzman of Katzman & Sugden LLC in Belleville.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 16-L-142

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