Midwifery negligence: a case study

A professional health practitioner can be found in law to be liable to compensate clients when the practitioner causes harm to the client through a negligent act or omission. To date, most health-related litigation has been directed toward the medical profession. A minority of cases are taken against health institutions with respect to nursing and midwifery practice. In recent years there have been a few cases in England in which midwifery practice has been an issue. The purpose of this article is to report on one such case. It is important for all midwifery practitioners to be aware of the facts and circumstances in which midwives have been found to be negligent, and the way in which the courts have dealt with the matters in dispute.