Gaughan v Bedfordshire Health Authority

(1997) 8 Med LR 182

QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION

and His Honour Judge PREVITé

Professional liability — Midwifery — Dystocia — Traction used to deliver large baby with shoulder dystocia — Erb's palsy — Whether midwife should have anticipated shoulder dystocia — Whether member of medical team should have been alerted and/or present in labour room when stage 2 of labour began — Whether midwife's strategy for dealing with shoulder dystocia was acceptable judged by 1991 standards — Whether midwife exercised reasonable care and skill in implementing chosen strategy — Whether midwife's lack of care or skill caused brachial plexus injury — Whether, if midwife had used some other method of delivery, it was likely that injury would not have occurred