A well respected gynecologist from Connecticut performed hysterectomy on a pregnant patient by mistake and will now have to pay a fine of $5,000, reports stated.
The Medical Examining Board of Connecticut issued the fine on Tuesday against Dr. Jonathan Foster.
Reports stated that the doctor performed laparoscopic hysterectomy, which involves the removal of a woman's uterus, back in January 2011 at Saint Mary's Hospital, Waterbury.
In July, Foster signed a consent order and it stated that the doctor did not know that the patient was pregnant before performing the procedure.
Furthermore, the order stated that Foster only relied on the patient's word insisting that she wasn't pregnant during that time.
According to Foster's lawyer, Madonna Sacco, in a report from the Hartford Courant, the doctor had discussed the procedure thoroughly with the patient and she insisted that she was "absolutely" not expecting.
Sacco added that they are not blaming the patient since she simply wanted to go on with the procedure.
Foster did conduct a urine pregnancy test on the patient, but the order stated that the test results couldn't determine if the patient was really pregnant or not.
He could have done a follow up on the patient with blood tests and ultrasound but he also failed to do so.
Foster did not oppose to the medical board's findings and he also waived hearing rights, which means that he fully accepted the terms just to keep his professional license.
The Courant reported that the doctor continues to be "an active member in good standing" at the hospital.
According to Everyday Health, for every 10 minutes, there are 12 hysterectomy procedures conducted in the U.S. Also, 600,000 hysterectomies are being performed in the country every year.
Hysterectomy is extremely necessary and the only option left in the cases of ovarian, uterine and cervical cancer.
An emergency procedure may be done if a woman experiences uterine infection and uncontrolled uterine bleeding.
Hysterectomy is the only treatment option for cancer cases, which is why experts advise patients to think long and hard before deciding to go through the operation.
