ONLY ON 13: Mom speaks out after OB/GYN banned from practice

Jessica Willey Image
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Mom issues warning after OB/GYN's license is revoked
Mom issues warning after OB/GYN's license is revoked, Jessica Willey reports.

HARRIS COUNTY (KTRK) -- A local doctor whose patients lost babies can no longer practice in Texas after the state medical board ruled he gave substandard care.

Gregory Cooke was an obstetrician and gynecologist licensed since 1996. He had privileges at UTMB-Angleton campus up until last summer, when his license was temporarily restricted. Last month, he volunteered to have it revoked altogether.

The board investigated the care of six patients, five of whom suffered tragic outcomes. Katherine Howard testified at his hearing. She spoke with Eyewitness News, she says, for her daughter, Kaitlyn, who lived only 9 minutes.

Today, she has only a memory box full of her things.

"Kaitlyn deserves to be known about. She deserves to be remembered, for people to understand why she died and that she died a painful death," said Howard.

In the order dated June 10th, The Texas Medical Board said Cooke "committed boundaries violations" by having sex with a patient; behaved unprofessionally and "failed to meet the standard of care." The Board has cited his "unavailability" as a pattern. Howard said she and even the hospital tried for at least five hours to reach him when she was having complications in February 2015.

Kaitlyn was born 17 weeks early. Howard held her until she died.

"I do feel like he had a strong role in it, a very strong role," said Howard. "That night I really needed him."

Neither Cooke nor his attorney responded to requests for comment. The board noted Cooke says the inappropriate relationship "was isolated to communications of a sexual nature."

Howard is pleased his license has been revoked. She regrets having trusted him.

"People should have more awareness and check their doctors. Realize they are people, too and you can't trust everyone."