Obstetrics, genetics, and litigation

Introduction Claims of medical negligence are universal. Unexpected adverse pregnancy outcome may trigger litigation. Such outcomes, especially with neurodevelopmental sequelae, be compounded by a genetic disorder, congenital abnormality or syndrome. Material and methods This is report 297 cases in which complication, error incident occurred that was followed progeny syndrome, spawned The author assessed, opined many cases, testified about causation. Results Pregnancies complicated hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy were not infrequently offspring Multiple brought because missed ultrasound laboratory diagnoses, failures carrier detection. Teratogenic medication prescribed before during invited legal purview. Failure to refer (or confer) for evaluation counseling the face significant risk, repeatedly. Ethical breaches hubris promptly led Conclusions Many lessons recommendations emerge this report. These include realization vast majority errors series involved at least two caregivers, serial studies important, decreased fetal movements signal family history ethnicity vital, cognitive biases profoundly affect decision-making. Finally, simplest have potential causing life-long grief.