title: [Applications in gynecology-obstetrics of the first legal cases concerning HIV transmission by blood transfusion and errors in screening].
abstract: The intention of the authors in this paper is to provide a preliminary report on what is going on in order to inform gynaecologists and obstetricians of the initial legal steps concerning the transmission of HIV by blood transfusion and the defects in screening for the infection which could have been caught by a pregnant woman; where there was a possibility of a false-positive diagnosis from the serum which could have brought about a termination of pregnancy unnecessarily. Two decisions have been analysed, the one according to the old administrative law and the other according to the more recent judgement, involving pregnancy and other decisions which were not directly concerned with the specialty. These can be instructive for practitioners because these circumstance may come up again. It is worth looking at the case papers where medical responsibility can be invoked involving the professional insurance agencies. These cases will increase in numbers in the future. The authors analysed in the light of the decisions that had been made, possible penal, civil and administrative liabilities that could threaten gynaecologists and obstetricians in this field. The study ends by pointing out what can be done to lessen these medico-legal risks by avoiding blood loss in operations, by finding other ways than blood transfusions towards the end of pregnancy, but above all, by reducing and controlling the number of blood transfusions carefully. This has to be done in collaboration with the transfusion centres and the laboratories where the blood is tested. Judges will have to work out where the responsibility lies if the cases come before them.
authors.affiliation: Départment de Clinique Gynécologique, Obstétricale et de la Reproduction, CHU de Tours.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pierre
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Soutoul
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000592:standards; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005602:France; D006176:Gynecology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
vernacular_title: Applications en gynécologie-obstétrique des premières jurisprudences concernant la transmission du VIH par transfusion sanguine et les erreurs de son dépistage.