Two Northern Virginia obstetricians who are immune from being sued were reprimanded by the state’s medical board last week for their roles in the devastating injuries of two children during childbirth.
Dr. Evelyn Ruelaz, who has practices in Manassas and Chantilly, and Dr. Regina Burton, who practices in Woodbridge, are protected from being sued by the children’s parents by a 1987 law intended to help the state keep obstetricians who were fleeing because of the high cost of medical malpractice insurance in Virginia.
The board’s reprimand carries no fine or suspension but becomes part of the doctors’ permanent records.
Ruelaz was reprimanded for her role as the obstetrician in the 2003 birth of Joseph Hershberger at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital.
According to Joseph’s mother, Lee Ann Hershberger, who spoke at a hearing by the state medical board, Ruelaz failed to notice her baby’s slowing heartbeat and left her alone for extended periods of time during labor, despite her high-risk pregnancy.
“There was nobody watching us or paying attention to what was going on,” Hershberger said, adding that her husband ran from room to room to find a nurse when she noticed the change in heartbeat.
“Joseph was born with no heartbeat, and they did CPR for 25 minutes before he finally got one,” she said. He has cerebral palsy and brain damage and needs 24-hour care.
Ruelaz could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Burton was reprimanded for a 2002 incident in which she failed to properly treat a mother who had a history of hemorrhaging during childbirth, which resulted in the child’s lifelong injury.
Burton did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Both doctors admitted during the hearings that they failed to pay enough attention to the deteriorating conditions of their patients.
Obstetricians in the state can opt to pay $5,000 a year for immunity from malpractice suits. That money, with contributions from hospitals and insurance agencies, is put in a fund that is distributed to parents of children who are injured during childbirth.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
