MEDICOLEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF ELECTRONIC FETAL MONITORING DURING LABOR

Fetal heart rate patterns play a significant role in the modem day obs tetric care. They also play a significant role in medicolegal allegati ons of negligence when the fetus suffers injury. Proper interpretation of the fetal monitor tracing is only one factor in the evaluation of the reasonableness of obstetric care. Appropriate care and optimal def ense both derive from reasonable interpretation of pertinent clinical data, including the monitor strip, along with timely pursuit of a thou ghtful, properly annotated, plan of care.