Legal issues in neurology and pregnancy. The physician's duty of care

Physicians face some unique legal issues when they treat women who have neurologic conditions in their childbearing years. These issues stem from the physician's responsibility to foresee and inform the woman of the impact of her neurologic condition and its treatment on her reproductive choices, as well as on her fetus. The physician's legal responsibility may extend to third parties, including not only the woman's spouse and child, but also to the general public. Legal liability may be imposed on a doctor because of harm to a fetus or to others as a result of the doctor's act or omission involving his patient.