Veterinary ordinary diligence in pregnancy diagnosis of cattle - Part 1: Pregnancy diagnosis in individual animal

False positive or false negative pregnancy diagnoses in connection with vet erinary gynaecological examinations might result in liability claims. From the forensic point of view this is most often legitimate. One reason for an incorrect veterinary diagnosis could be on a rash decision on interpreting rectal palpation or ultrasonic findings leading to the diagnosis "early pr egnancy" even if it is not proven without doubt. In other cases, pregnancy is excluded, although there are hints leading at least to the assumption of a present pregnancy. Problems in the assessment of liability cases arise w hen an originally correct diagnosis "early pregnancy" becomes an "apparentl y" false diagnosis after the occurence of an embryonic death. In cases of f alse positive or false negative diagnoses after the ninth week of pregnancy inadequate ordinary diligence can be postulated.