title: Medical legal issues in fetal monitoring.
abstract: Despite almost universal fetal monitoring during labor, debates over its role and benefits persist in the medical community and in obstetric negligence lawsuits. Irrespective, there is widespread agreement that improvement in perinatal outcome is possible and that the events of labor contribute significantly to perinatal hazards. Timely application and proper interpretation of the fetal heart rate pattern in concert with evaluations of the maternal condition and the feasibility of safe vaginal delivery permit an evaluation of the quality of care and the preventability of fetal injury whether in peer review or in malpractice cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Kaiser Permanente-Los Angeles Medical Center, 6345 Balboa Blvd., Bldg. II, Suite 245, Encino, CA 91316, USA. bpminc@aol.com
authors.forename: Barry S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Schifrin
authors.forename: Wayne R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011247:Pregnancy; D009626:Terminology as Topic