Obstetrics Closed Claims Study > Michigan State Medical Society

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Obstetrics Closed Claims Study

Obstetricians have the unique risk of caring for two patients at the same time. Mothers and neonates have separate needs and can suffer different injuries. The Doctors Company's Obstetrics Closed Claims Study, a review of 882 obstetrical claims that closed from 2007-2014, revealed that the most common patient allegation against obstetricians, occurring in 22 percent of claims, was delay in treatment of fetal distress, including failure to act when presented with Category II or III fetal heart rate (FHR) tracings predictive of metabolic acidemia. The study also analyzed the specific factors that contributed to patient injury, and the second-most common factor in these claims (32 percent) was patient assessment issues, including misinterpretation of FHR strips and diagnostic test results.

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