Safe Practice in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Part 1 The law: the duties of the obstetrician; negligence - accepted practice and the application of the Bolam principle; when to speak and when to keep silent - confidentially and discovery; consent; causation and foreeability; statute law and the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology; medical negligence from point of view of plaintiff and defendant; the assessment of damages; the role of the expert of plaintiff and defendant; the leading cases; a commonwealth perspective; Australia; Canada; New Zealand. Part 2 Obstetrics: prenatal screening and counselling; obstetric ultrasound and invasive diagnostic procedures; antenatal care and identification of high risk women; intrapartum care including the detection and management of fetal dysfunction; obstetric analgesia and anaesthesia; operative delivery; consent to obstetric procedures. Part 3 Neonatal care: collaboration between obstetricians and paediatricians, and neonatal intensive care; the role of medical imaging in understanding the causation of perinatal brain injury; intrapartum asphyxia and cerebral palsy; handicap in childhood; ethics at the obstetric-paediatric interface. Part 4 Gynaecology: gynaecological surgery - general aspects; gynaecological endoscopic surgery; sterilisation; induced abortion; gynaecological oncology; fertility and assisted conception; contraception; gynaecological pathology. Part 5 The aftermath: risk management in obstetrics; the consequences of obstetric accidents; the continuing care of the injured plaintiff.