In this era of specialisation, obstetricians are becoming increasingly skilled at their jobs and deskilled in areas outside their expertise. In recent years, the education and training curricula for obstetrics and gynaecology has changed, with obstetricians expected to manage women with complex gynaecological problems encountered during pregnancy and the postnatal period competently, despite training and curricula not covering these problems in detail. Exploring common gynaecological problems such as ovarian cysts, management of vaginal prolapse and female genital mutilation, this practical book offers guidance for managing these conditions throughout the different stages of pregnancy and post-partum. Each chapter has a section on good governance, discussing salient points for clinical practice to improve patient safety and satisfaction, as well as reducing complaints and litigation. This hands-on book provides obstetricians around the globe with the evidence-based knowledge needed to deliver high quality care to pregnant women.

Obstetrics and gynaecology is the biggest area of medical litigation, with compensation pay-outs exceeding the rest of medicine combined. Many specialists working in the field will be sued over their professional lifetime - having an increased awareness of past cases and their implications will reduce the risk of future litigation. Using landmark cases in the field, this book covers scenarios such as multiple pregnancy, hysterectomy and breech delivery, describing factors that have led to litigation. Chapters are structured clearly, beginning with case commentaries detailing both a successful and unsuccessful claim. This section is followed by legal commentary explaining the relevant laws and the verdict, finally giving a clinical commentary provided by experts in the field which focuses on best practice to avoid litigation. Edited by an accredited expert witness in the field and a barrister specialising in medical law, this is an invaluable resource for clinicians and lawyers alike.

This book highlights minimum standards relating to the management of different conditions in the practice of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The editors explore clinical governance issues, common causes of as well as ways to avoid litigation. The UK is experiencing a dramatic increase in medico-legal claims. The 4 main reasons for litigation are: accountability, the need for an explanation, concern with standards of care and compensation. However the decision to take legal action is determined not only by the original injury, but failure to provide information, an explanation and an apology. Insensitive handling of an injury and poor communication after the original incident increases the risk of litigation and erodes the patient-doctor relationship. Doctors almost never deliberately cause harm to patients, however increasingly claims are being defended successfully. This book is invaluable to clinicians and lawyers alike and raises awareness of how to avoid facing clinical negligence claims in our day to day practice.