Waterbury Gynecologist Fined for Mistaken Hysterectomy on Pregnant Woman

A Connecticut gynecologist was fined for mistakenly performing a hysterectomy on a patient he didn't know was pregnant.

Dr. Jonathan Foster, of Waterbury, was ordered to pay $5,000 Tuesday by the state Medical Examining Board.

Foster performed a laparoscopic hysterectomy, a procedure that removes the uterus, on the woman at Saint Mary's Hospital in Waterbury Jan. 20, 2011.

A consent order Foster signed in July says he failed to detect the patient's pregnancy before the operation.

The order says he relied on the patient's belief that she wasn't pregnant. While he did perform a urine pregnancy test, the order says the result couldn't be determined either way.

Foster didn't contest the board's findings and waived his right to a hearing, which means he accepted the terms to keep his license.

You can read the court documents on the case here.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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