Wiszniewski v Central Manchester HA

(1996) 7 Med LR 248

QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION

and Mr Justice THOMAS

Professional liability — Obstetrics — Delivery — Midwife's decision to inform doctor of fetal tachycardia — Doctor's failure to attend mother — Whether doctor negligent in (a) failing to attend patient to examine her and consider trace before deciding what to do; (b) relying upon midwife — Doctor's failure to attend at trial — Whether leading to inference that, if he had attended patient, he would, after examination of patient and CTG trace, have concluded that it was necessary and safe to rupture membranes and proceed to caesarean section — Whether, had caesarean section been performed, plaintiff would not have suffered from cerebral palsy as cord would not have tightened round his neck during birth