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
