[Neonatal surgery of cleft lip and palate: juridical aspects]

Neonatal surgery of cleft lip and palate is a common practice fro many surgical teams. The modifications of the French Law in 2002 on patient's rights, the way judges decide how the law should be applied, and the modifications of the rules for health centres need an analysis of the juridical aspects of this surgery. First the bases of the Law are presented, then how the surgeon responsibility can be engaged is learned.