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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis
Published on: January 7, 2018
Wrongful birth
1Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, U.K.
Insights
Medical negligence litigation is rising in the UK. Parents can claim for costs of care for children with congenital abnormalities if negligent antenatal diagnosis occurred, preventing a termination of pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Medical Law
- Obstetrics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Increased medical negligence litigation in the UK.
- Legal framework for congenital abnormality claims: parents can sue for costs if negligent care led to a child's birth when termination was an option.
Observation:
- Six case studies of children with neural tube defects are presented.
- Alleged diagnostic errors leading to non-recognition of neural tube defects are detailed.
Findings:
- Analysis of specific cases highlights failures in antenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects.
- Identified faults in the diagnostic process require attention.
Implications:
- Need for a standardized antenatal approach to diagnosing and managing neural tube defects.
- Potential impact on medical negligence claims related to birth abnormalities.
- Importance of improving diagnostic accuracy in prenatal care.
Abstract:
In the U.K. there has been a considerable increase in medical negligence litigation. Children born with congenital abnormalities cannot sue for having been allowed to be born but their parents can claim for the costs of their care if they can prove that appropriate care would have led to a termination of pregnancy. Six children who are the subject of such proceedings are described and the alleged faults that led to their neural tube defects not being recognised are detailed. General recommendations for a consistent antenatal approach to the diagnosis and management of neural tube defects are suggested.
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