News Briefs: The Trump Administration’s Federal Health Research Agenda Threatens Basic Prevention, Treatment, and Cures For Diseases That Affect Women And Reproductive Health
The Trump administration’s cuts to research on Alzheimer’s, menopause, uterine fibroids, and pregnancy risk will all have significant impacts on the reproductive health of women.
News Briefs: The Trump Administration Is Endangering Women’s Reproductive Health
The Trump Administration’s gutting of the CDC includes slashing public health programs and eliminating 2,400 jobs, of which 460 were reinstated. The majority of CDC employees in the Division of Reproductive Health have been terminated, including cuts to the branch devoted to women’s health and fertility.
Duty of Care Revisited
In a medical malpractice case against a certified nurse-midwife, the injured patient/plaintiff must be able to prove that the midwife owed them a legal duty. By law, all providers of healthcare owe their patients a legal duty.
Opinion: Who’s The Boss?
I’ve written on this subject before, but the more I hear from CNMs being overseen and controlled by corporate nurse managers, the more it seems that the already inherent problems with this heinous hierarchical structure are getting worse.
Claim of Malpractice with Multiple Failures and Mismanagement Of Labor and Delivery
b. The patient presented to the hospital during her prenatal period a total of four times. Her complaints consisted of cramping, abdominal pain, and headache. She was evaluated each time and discharged home.
Issues of Venue and the Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
Plaintiffs Joseph Cohen and Galit Dadoun-Cohen, individually and in their own right as co-administrators of the estate of Ethan Amos Dadoun-Cohen, deceased, appeal from the Court’s Order, dated April 24, 2007, wherein the Court granted preliminary objections of Defendants Eric Carlson, D.O., and Main Line Perinatal Associates, transferring the matter to the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Filing The Midwifery Negligence Lawsuit - Part 3
According to National Vital Statistics, birth injury is defined as “impairment of an infant’s body function or structure as the result of an adverse event during childbirth. Injuries mostly occur during the process of labor and delivery.
In Utero Causation Theories Used At Trial To Challenge Excessive Traction As The Cause of Brachial Plexus Injuries
In Utero causation is a manufactured theory based on speculation that contradicts known anatomic and physiologic principles. For those who were attempting to remove excessive traction as the primary causative entity for birth injuries, articles focused on any other cause than the obvious one: provider panic and force.
A Review of the Evidence Based Literature in Shoulder Dystocia Litigation 1980’s – 2000’s Part 1
Cohen B, et.al. Sonographic Prediction of Shoulder Dystocia in Infants of Diabetic Mothers. Obstet Gynecol 1996: 88:10-13. [AD-BPD cut-off 2.6 cm; infants of diabetic mothers 10x as likely to weigh more than 4500 gms; incidence of SD in diabetics 3-9%; current practice favors advising abdominal delivery for fetuses believed to exceed 4000 gms.
Evidence-Based Literature in Shoulder Dystocia Litigation
Dr. X failed to document fetal weight and maternal pelvic size on the mother’s admission in labor. The pregnant patient in this case was a known gestational diabetic.
The Role of Social Media in Litigation
Every day, an increasing amount of personal information is posted on the internet, often without our knowledge. It’s not breakthrough information that it houses a gold mine of information for lawyers to use.
Deposition Discovery and Your Conduct As a Witness
As a medical professional, you stand a decent chance of being involved in litigation, either directly or by peripheral involvement. Whether you, personally, have been named as a defendant or you were present during a situation deemed a violation of the standards of practice, being called to deposition can be a disturbing experience.
What Does Standard of Care Really Mean? An Additional Clarification of Terms
A majority of individuals, from most professions, do not have a clear understanding regarding Standard of Care. The first thing to understand is that standard of care is a legal term. It is not a medical term.
Cheating On Call
I have never encountered anyone that actually enjoyed taking call, especially at night. Although this dedicated time probably represents a majority of the effort we put forth as maternity care providers. When on call, healthcare providers are available for consultation, evaluation, reassurance, and a plan of care, either in-person or by phone.
Electronic Medical Records: Legal and Professional Risks to Providers
I have presented the most risk-averse ways to document in the record in order to reduce your risk of being sued for negligence. This article, however, is aimed at how the electronic record, itself, can place you in legal jeopardy.
EMR Documentation Part V: For OB, Neonatal, and Midwifery Providers
Incomplete documentation of critical events is a standard error and interferes with effective representation for defense attorneys. OB and Neonatal providers encounter recurring situations that account for fetal/neonatal injuries.
News Briefs: Midwifery Issues and Practice For Consumers, Attorneys, Nurses, and Physicians
Summer is here, and along with climate change, the weather is hotter and drier for much of the world. Wildfires have become more common even in places that have typically not experienced them to any significant degree. If you are pregnant, wildfire smoke from a wildland fire, or even a campfire, could have an impact on pregnancy.
Legal Standard of Care
Standard of care is a legal term, not a medical or midwifery one. When referring to the quality of care provided in a situation of healthcare, standard of care is the term of lawyers, not healthcare providers.
Foreseeability Of Harm: A Tragic Clinical Summary
News Briefs: Midwifery/Obstetrical Issues and Practice
Bullying and incivility in midwifery, nursing, and obstetrical practice have been the subject of several articles in the past few years. In 2008, JCAH published a sentinel event alert requiring all hospitals with their accreditation to have a policy in place for the confidential reporting of bullying without fear of repercussions.