title: Medicolegal ramifications of electronic fetal monitoring during labor.
abstract: Fetal heart rate patterns play a significant role in the modern day obstetric care. They also play a significant role in medicolegal allegations of negligence when the fetus suffers injury. Proper interpretation of the fetal monitor tracing is only one factor in the evaluation of the reasonableness of obstetric care. Appropriate care and optimal defense both derive from reasonable interpretation of pertinent clinical data, including the monitor strip, along with timely pursuit of a thoughtful, properly annotated, plan of care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, California, USA.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Schifrin
mesh_terms: D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004582:Electronics, Medical; D005260:Female; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011247:Pregnancy