From delivery suite to laboratory: optimizing returns from placental examination in medico-legal defence

While examinations of the placenta may reveal significant lesions that are helpful in a medico-legal context, its value maybe diminished by a lack of attention to detail in the period between delivery of the baby and receipt of the placenta in the pathology department. These fall generally into 2 groups: initial description and handling of the placenta and lack of relevant clinical information. This communication describes some of these pitfalls. By observing these details, the onus then falls on the pathologist to provide a meaningful assessment of the placenta.