title: Medical legal issues in the prevention of prematurity.
abstract: Preterm birth remains the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the world today. This article discusses ways the treatment team can inform parents of probable outcomes and help them reach decisions about treatment for the newborn under emotionally fraught conditions. In addition to supporting the patient, these approaches may help the clinician avoid malpractice litigation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, 9N27-BH, New York, NY 10016, USA. david.seubert@med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Seubert
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Randi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wasserman-Hoff
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008318:Malpractice; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control; D033282:Parental Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015974:Wrongful Life