Adriana Saldana had just welcomed her second child into the world. However, during her pregnancy, she encountered complications that included significant bleeding, requiring her to be placed on temporary bed rest. Adriana and her husband were thrilled with their two sons they had together and made the decision to stop expanding their family. To ensure this choice was permanent, Adriana visited her OB/GYN to discuss sterilization options. After a thorough conversation, her doctor recommended a cautery tubal ligation as the best solution to achieve her goal of permanent sterilization. Before the procedure, she signed consent forms that clearly stated the procedure was permanent and irreversible.
Adriana took the next step by undergoing surgery with her obstetrician. Adriana returned home believing that she had nothing to worry about after completing the procedure. Shortly after, her husband received a job offer for his dream career, prompting a move from Bakersfield to Temecula. Once they settled into their new home, Adriana embraced her own ambition by landing her dream job at a law firm and returning to school to pursue a paralegal qualification. Their lives felt perfectly aligned with their aspirations. However, everything changed when Adriana unexpectedly missed her menstrual period.
Adriana’s menstrual cycle was always predictable, starting on the 27th of each month without fail. When she took a home pregnancy test, her worst fears were confirmed—she was pregnant. Filled with anxiety, she promptly scheduled a blood test, which verified her pregnancy the next day, revealing hormone levels at 2,797. Only five days later, her hormone levels began to plummet which could indicate a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. Confusion and heartbreak overwhelmed her as she tried to grasp how this could happen. She felt utterly devastated. This ordeal led to life-altering discussions with her husband about their future and their family. It was a pivotal moment, forcing them to confront the reality of their circumstances and consider the path ahead. Adriana found herself in an incredibly tumultuous state, and the weight of it all was unbearable.
Seeking answers and accountability, Adriana contacted Consumer Watchdog. She shared her story and together they created an accountability plan. She was in tears. She shared her concerns due to her age and both of her sons suffering from severe jaundice due to blood type incompatibility. She feared pregnancy complications. A day later, she began to experience painful cramps, severe back pain, and chest pain. As her cramping intensified, she feared she might be experiencing a miscarriage. The pain became so overwhelming that she could not take her children to school. She reached out to her healthcare provider, who promptly advised her to go directly to the emergency room. She arrived at the hospital around 10 AM, experiencing intense abdominal, back, and chest pain, accompanied by severe lower pelvic pain. Upon her arrival, the hospital staff conducted a urine test, ran comprehensive lab tests, and performed both an abdominal and a vaginal ultrasound. When the initial ultrasound did not reveal any issues, the hospital ordered a vaginal ultrasound that revealed that there was no pregnancy in her uterus. However, the vaginal ultrasound indicated something concerning, and they were unable to rule out the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy. Fueled by the fear that she may not survive an ectopic pregnancy, Adriana called her eldest son to tell him how much she loved him. She could not submit to further care without letting her sons know how much they meant to her. She was then transferred to another hospital for a higher level of care to determine if she was suffering from an ectopic pregnancy. Since the wait for an ambulance would take hours and she was facing a life-threatening crisis, Adriana drove herself to the second hospital. Upon arrival, she was rushed into emergency surgery.
Following her surgery, the surgeon made it clear that Adriana should have had her fallopian tubes removed by her former OB. The surgeon explained to her husband that she had an ectopic pregnancy, which they managed to resolve by removing it and her fallopian tubes. She reiterated the urgency of her situation, stating, “It’s good you came in when you did. If that ectopic pregnancy had ruptured, you would have died.” This situation required emergency surgery. The fact that the surgeon, who performed her life-saving surgery, stated that her OB should have removed her fallopian tubes, and had he done so, she would not have had her life placed in danger, left her and her children traumatized.
Adriana was deeply troubled after viewing media reports about her former obstetrician, who had harmed numerous mothers, failed his competency exam, and faced a cease-practice order on his license. Until now, she had no idea of the extent of his negligent actions. Upon leaving the hospital, she took immediate action and met with Consumer Watchdog to file a consumer complaint. She feared for the safety of other mothers should this obstetrician regain his ability to practice medicine should he eventually pass his competency exam. She feared waiting until she healed. She took immediate action. She took these actions not only for herself but on behalf of her children. Her kids stayed up, anxiously waiting for her, and when they finally saw her, their worry turned to tears. Her 9-year-old son thought she was going to die. Adriana deserved better care. She did not deserve to nearly die from an ectopic pregnancy and face life-saving surgery. Her sons should not have been put in a position to fear losing their mother.
She recently returned to Bakersfield, where she is diligently researching OB/GYNs. Her past experience has made her wary of medical negligence, prompting her to make informed choices for her healthcare. With family members—sisters and nieces—also residing in Bakersfield, she feels a deep sense of responsibility to ensure their well-being as well.
Adriana has filed a consumer complaint with the Osteopathic Medical Board of California against her OB/GYN. This action is particularly important given that her OB/GYN is currently barred from practicing medicine. The Osteopathic Medical Board issued a cease practice order after he failed a clinical competency exam required by an Administrative Law Judge. As it stands, he has not yet passed this exam, raising concerns about the quality of care he can provide should he pass a future exam. She feels it is unacceptable that women in the Central Valley lack access to safe obstetrical care. Adriana has joined Consumer Watchdog’s advocacy team to help in the effort to reform the medical board.
See news coverage on Dr. Yu at the links below.
Bakersfield Californian:
23ABC News:
