I read this story recently. Never thought it was possible, and I don’t know how many other mothers have caught on fire during major surgery to birth a child, but it is yet another reason to stay at home when giving birth…
Woman says she was burned while giving birth

“One year old Christopher Estrada Jr. is a healthy baby boy, a fact mother Abigail Estrada can take solace in, regardless of a terrible accident in the operating room. She was in labor at San Joaquin Community Hospital for four days in July of 2005, when the doctor decided to perform a c-section.

In the operating room, Estrada remembers seeing the doctors and nurses started to panic, while all she could see was smoke and flames. She didn’t realize it was her legs that were on fire, until after she gave birth.

After staying at San Joaquin for a month, Estrada went down to the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks. Husband Christopher was forced to quit his job to take care of the family. And now, even a year later, Estrada has daily rehab and more surgeries on the way. What was a nightmare, became even worse when trying to deal with the legalities of what happened.

Attorney Daniel Rodriguez describes a situation with both insurance companies for the doctor and the hospital refusing to take responsibility, placing blame with the other party. He says the hospital alleges the doctor started cutting too early, while the doctor claims the nurses used too much antiseptic solvent.

Rodriguez filed the lawsuit against the hospital and everyone in the operating room three months ago, that includes two doctors and four nurses. Attorney Dennis Thelan, who is representing the two—Dr. Philip Melendez and Dr. Tong Chung, says in no way did the two surgeons start the fire. As for the hospital, lawyers will not issue a comment because the lawsuit is pending.”

Story Created: Nov 14, 2006 at 8:53 PM CST
I’m wondering why this story did not hit the airwaves until a year after it happened???
Jenny Hatch