Why you should research your OBGYN 

Trigger warning: this was extremely hard to write and will be hard to read, but I know this needs to be shared as it could save a life…

When I found out I was pregnant, I was a patient of a large OBGYN practice. For my annuals I would see a PA, or whoever was available. I didn’t have an established relationship with anyone I liked. 

I also didn’t want to continue at a large practice, because when it’s time for you to deliver, you are assigned whoever is in town or on call. 

When you are pregnant, everyone is throwing a plethora of information at you, and everyone wanted to tell me who delivered their children. And, I kept hearing one name over and over, especially by women whose children were grown. 

He was a solo practitioner and I felt comfort in the fact that he had been in business for so long locally, and I wouldn’t be handed off to someone else when it came time to deliver. 

I am very fortunate that my husband works for himself, and therefore I never attended any doctor’s appointments without my husband. 

Everyone in the office was super kind and over time I warmed up to the doctor. He loved us, and always had us in his office talking long after my appointments were over. 

I’m very natural and holistic, I don’t even take aspirin for headaches, and we joked how my desire of a home birth would turn into me delivering at the gym during a workout! LOL 

He also had an ultrasound technician in office, and at the end we got so many beautiful shots of Antonio’s gorgeous little face and luscious lips. 

I really had the most beautiful pregnancy ever. If I could go back in time, I would have done more photoshoots pregnant and/or tried to model – because I felt that gorgeous, confident and sexy. I was healthy, fit and the perfect patient. 

A couple of weeks before my due date, we finally went to tour the hospital. My doctor’s office was in the neighboring town and affiliated with a hospital a good 30-45 min from us. We weren’t in a rush to tour, because I had been there before and was familiar with the setup. 

We arrive, and meet the nurses at the front desk who are just divine. 

“Who is your doctor?” they ask.

We tell them, and I will never EVER forget the woman’s face.

“Oh… well… he is not allowed to deliver here.” she says. 

My 9 ½ month pregnant Italian head popped off. 

“What are you talking about?! This is the hospital he is associated with! He told us to come tour here. I am due in a couple of weeks! Where will he deliver me then?!”

“Well, he’s not allowed to deliver in any hospital, ma’am… however, we have an incredible team of doctors that will be more than happy to take care of you when you deliver.”

My husband calmly thanked them and we left. I didn’t say a word. I couldn’t say a word, because I couldn’t speak. My stomach was in my throat and everything felt WRONG. I felt so violated, deceived, scared and disappointed.

I was also disgusted with myself. Me, the paralegal for over a decade who would run legit background checks on someone before going on a date… never took the time to research the man who I chose to care for me, monitor my pregnancy and bring life into this world. 

And now… WHO WOULD DELIVER MY BABY?! 

I remember going home, opening my laptop and beginning my research. In Florida, the Department of Health has a very easy search portal to lookup a doctor’s license verification. (I’ll enclose the link at the end of this post) I typed his name in, hit search and lost it. 

He was sued in 1988, 1993 and 1994 over the death of two babies and a mother.

In 2004, he botched a procedure on a mother causing a miscarriage.

In 2011, he delayed a C-section, resulting in neurological damage to the baby.

In 2012, he improperly performed a hysterectomy; AND another death during a routine, outpatient procedure.

In 2014 there were two administrative complaints filed against him for negligent care during two different cesareans. I’ll spare you the disturbing details in the complaint. One mother died.

In 2017, his patient died after a scheduled induction due to his massive negligence. (I delivered 1/16/2020) 

He also botched two circumcisions.

I cannot explain how receiving this information less then 2 weeks before giving birth affected me. 

I was also massively confused as to how this man was still operating a practice. 

What I learned was that he was in the middle of a lawsuit to permanently revoke his medical license. But, during this lawsuit, he was still allowed to practice in a limited capacity. He could do office visits but wasn’t allowed to step foot in a hospital. (Don’t get me started on how this was even allowed) 

My husband has often asked me if I felt the care he provided during our 9 months of office visits was adequate, and putting my emotions aside I can say yes. His nursing staff provided most of my care, and my time with him was generally spent chatting about my progression and any concerns or questions I had. However, had I known any of this information prior, I would have NEVER stepped foot inside his office. 

From here my peaceful, perfect pregnancy journey took a turn into the darkest unchartered territory I’ve perhaps ever been in. My birth story changed me forever, and I am finally ready to share it. 

Until then, share with me! Do you research your doctors before going to them for care? 

If you reside in Florida, here is the Department of Health website to research your next provider. 

(And yes, his license is now completely revoked and he is unable to practice medicine anymore.)