About
In recent years, medical practitioners have found themselves in an increasingly litigious environment. One in 22 physicians was named in a new legal action in 2004. And the leading claim in all this litigation continues to be obstetric malpractice-an area where the average physician will be sued at least twice in a professional lifetime, with an average settlement of $2.7 million.
Many newborns are admitted to neonatal intensive care units. Some of them are diagnosed with perinatal asphyxia and other complications that eventually lead to permanent brain damage and other lifetime injuries. Often, the parents of these children will seek out lawyers to help determine if these injuries could have been prevented. And, surprisingly, they could have been-had the perinatal team been aware of the risks and followed the proper procedures to achieve patient safety and risk reduction.
But the news is not all bad: obstetrical malpractice cases can be successfully defended-if the perinatal delivery team is aware of the risks and how they can be avoided. No obstetric health professional or institution providing obstetric care can afford less than an up-to-the-minute understanding of these medical and legal issues. The cost is simply too high.
This timely and important American Conference Institute publication was developed to provide both legal and medical professionals with an intensive and broad review of the issues facing all clinicians providing care to pregnant women and their infants.
Get the most up-to-date, comprehensive information on:
• How to successfully defend the perinatal team
• The latest developments in determining the etiology and timing of the events leading to irreversible brain damage
• Potential causes of brain damage: infection, metabolic and blood disorders and genetic defects
• Recent medical and legal developments in prenatal diagnosis
About
In recent years, medical practitioners have found themselves in an increasingly litigious environment. One in 22 physicians was named in a new legal action in 2004. And the leading claim in all this litigation continues to be obstetric malpractice-an area where the average physician will be sued at least twice in a professional lifetime, with an average settlement of $2.7 million.
Many newborns are admitted to neonatal intensive care units. Some of them are diagnosed with perinatal asphyxia and other complications that eventually lead to permanent brain damage and other lifetime injuries. Often, the parents of these children will seek out lawyers to help determine if these injuries could have been prevented. And, surprisingly, they could have been-had the perinatal team been aware of the risks and followed the proper procedures to achieve patient safety and risk reduction.
But the news is not all bad: obstetrical malpractice cases can be successfully defended-if the perinatal delivery team is aware of the risks and how they can be avoided. No obstetric health professional or institution providing obstetric care can afford less than an up-to-the-minute understanding of these medical and legal issues. The cost is simply too high.
This timely and important American Conference Institute publication was developed to provide both legal and medical professionals with an intensive and broad review of the issues facing all clinicians providing care to pregnant women and their infants.
Get the most up-to-date, comprehensive information on:
• How to successfully defend the perinatal team
• The latest developments in determining the etiology and timing of the events leading to irreversible brain damage
• Potential causes of brain damage: infection, metabolic and blood disorders and genetic defects
• Recent medical and legal developments in prenatal diagnosis
Contents & Contributors
YOU CAN ACTUALLY SUCCESSFULLY DEFEND AN OBSTETRICAL MALPRACTICE CASE
David R. Lucchese, Galloway, Lucchese, Everson & Picchi
FETAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE DURING LABOR
Barry S. Schifrin, M.D., Obstetrician and Gynecologist
BEHIND EVERY HEALTHY BABY IS A HEALTHY PLACENTA
Harvey J. Kliman, M.D., Ph.D, Yale University School of Medicine
REDUCING THE RISK OF NEONATAL BRAIN DAMAGE
Daniel V. Landers, M.D., University of Minnesota
PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS: INDICATIONS AND TECHNIQUES
Lee P. Shulman, M.D., Northwestern University
OPERATIVE VAGINAL DELIVERY: ISSUES OLD AND NEW
James Byrne, M.D., Stanford University School of Medicine
PREPARING FOR PRETERM BIRTH
James Byrne, M.D., Stanford University School of Medicine
FAMILY PHYSICIANS, OBSTETRICIANS, MIDWIVES AND NURSES: RESPONSIBILIY ALONG THE CONTINUUM OF OBSTETRIC CARE
David R. Lucchese, Galloway, Lucchese, Everson & Picchi
Publication Details