title: [Litigation in obstetrics and gynaecology: experience of a university hospital in France].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the nature of medico-legal claims in a high-risk speciality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of the causes of medico-legal disputes at the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the North University Hospital of Marseilles between November 1997 and December 2010. Disputes were defined by complaints, judicial or conciliatory claims and intentional declaration of potential medico-legal case by physicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-nine controversial medico-legal cases were identified within this 13-year period. Ninety percent (n=53) of cases concerned obstetrics and 10% (n=6) gynaecology. The rate of litigations tripled in a decade. Half of the litigations led to judicial or conciliatory expertise. The average rate of malpractice litigations was 2.4 per physician. Uterine rupture was the most common cause of complaints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased awareness of the nature of litigations may help elaborate risk reduction management programs in order to reduce professional liability on the long run.
authors: Pôle Gynécologie-Obstétrique-reproduction, CHU Nord, AP-HM, Chemin des Bourrellys, 13015 Marseille, France. raha.shojai@ap-hm.fr
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Shojai
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Bretelle
authors: C
authors: C
authors: D'Ercole
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Boubli
authors: M-D
authors: MD
authors: Piercecchi
mesh_terms: D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006176:Gynecology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007603:Jurisprudence; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D063130:Maternal Death / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D054238:Perinatal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies