Doctor deemed ‘threat to the public’ after death of 2 fetuses, Texas board says

A longtime doctor has been suspended following the deaths of two fetuses under similar circumstances, according to the Texas Medical Board.

Dr. Yolanda Lagunas, an OB-GYN based in El Paso, will be unable to practice medicine until May 31, 2027, according to the board, which said her continued treatment of patients “would constitute a continuing threat to the public welfare.”

Lagunas has actively practiced medicine for 37 years, according to the medical board. Until her suspension, she had hospital privileges at Del Soto Medical Center and Hospital of Providence Medical Center East, both in El Paso.

According to her suspension paperwork, Lagunas failed “to meet the standard of care during the delivery of a fetus,” which died under her care.

Lagunas saw a patient when she was admitted to the hospital, but she did not see her again for 35 hours, according to the paperwork.

“Respondent did not properly monitor the patient and failed to recognize the deterioration in the fetus in the fetal heart monitor indicated the fetus was in extreme distress,·which warranted immediate delivery,” the board said.

“The patient was not delivered immediately but instead was delivered several hours after the Category 3 tracing was identified. This delay resulted in the unnecessary death of the fetus.”

Officials said Lagunas tried to deliver the baby vaginally for 12 hours before performing a C-section. The fetus died from hypoxic respiratory failure.

According to the board, a second fetus died “almost identical in circumstances.”