Wrongful Birth

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.

Key words

NTD - Antenatal diagnostic failure - Litigation