VISALIA, Calif. (KGPE/KSEE) — A newborn was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) after a Visalia OB-GYN allegedly failed to properly monitor the fetal heart rate and incorrectly recommended a C-section based on her patient’s height and weight, according to the state medical board. As a result, the doctor has been temporarily suspended from practicing.
On July 14, 2020, Dr. Katherine Amelia Overton of Family Health Care Network assumed responsibility for a patient in labor at around 7 a.m. However, it wasn’t until 6:48 p.m. — nearly 12 hours later — that she visited the patient, marking the only time she interacted with her. During this visit, Overton allegedly did not conduct a proper examination or document any clinical notes regarding the patient’s condition.
Court records indicate that Overton simply looked at the patient and suggested that due to her short stature and weight — 5 feet tall and 177 pounds — she was not fit to deliver vaginally and would need a Cesarean section. A new physician took over less than 15 minutes later at the patient’s request. Upon evaluation, this physician discovered that the fetal heart rate was showing concerning signs of late decelerations, an issue Overton had failed to assess.
Despite Overton’s initial recommendation, the baby was born through a normal vaginal delivery later that evening.
However, due to the fetal heart rate issues, the NICU team was called. The baby was described as pale, limp, and unresponsive, requiring intubation before being transported to the NICU. The newborn was eventually discharged on July 24.
The medical board determined that Overton’s actions constituted gross negligence. Her failure to perform a cervical check, properly monitor the fetal heart rate, and accurately assess the patient’s labor were key factors. Additionally, her decision to recommend a C-section based on the patient’s physical characteristics, rather than medical necessity, was deemed incorrect.
The board also cited Overton’s lack of communication with the new physician who took over the patient’s care and her failure to document her involvement. As a result, her medical license will be placed on probation for four years, beginning January 30, 2025.
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