General description of the work of a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
The Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist deals with pregnancy, labour and delivery as well as ectopic pregnancy, Caesarian sections, forceps and vacuum delivery, miscarriages, terminations (abortions), sterilisations and infertility. He/She also deals with cervical cancer, tumours of the ovaries, endometriosis, hysterectomies, vaginal surgery and failed contraception.


Most common clinical areas / procedures leading to a claim of clinical negligence
• prolonged or problematic labour leading to birth hypoxia in the newborn baby
• problems following Caesarian section or following forceps or vacuum delivery
• failed sterilisation
• brachial plexus injury following shoulder dystocia
• problems in the ante natal period such as pre-eclamsia
• bladder or bowel or ureter injury during gynaecological operations
• complications of hysterectomy operations
• problems with infertility treatments
• complications of twin pregnancy


Sub-Specialities / Alternative and Additional job titles
The Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist may be known as a Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He/She may be known simply as an Obstetrician if most of his/her work is in dealing with pregnancy, or as a Gynaecologist if most of his/her work is non-pregnancy related gynaecology. If most of his/her work is in the field of infertility then he/she may be known as a Fertility Specialist.


Usual Qualifications
The Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist will have MRCOG or FRCOG (Membership or Fellowship of the Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologists) after his/her name.


Academic Appointments
The Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist may be a Lecturer or Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at a Medical School. He/She may be an Examiner for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.


Our Experts
The Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologists who prepare reports on medical negligence cases on our behalf are all experienced NHS Consultants. They are in active clinical practice and they are experienced at preparing medico-legal reports. They are willing to attend Court in the UK and Ireland provided that they are given enough notice and their fees and expenses for attending are agreed in advance.
Each of the Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologists who prepare reports on our behalf has particular areas of clinical interest within his/her practice and we match each case with the most appropriate Consultant.


The Report
The Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologists prepare their Reports for the benefit of the Courts. In other words, they prepare unbiased Reports in order to help the Court to decide the case, rather than to help one side or the other.
The Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologists examine all the documentation and details of the case and look at the standard of care that the Client received. They then give their opinion on whether or not the standard of care that the Client received fell below the standard of care he/she should have received.
Where necessary they provide background documentation and information to back-up their opinion.


Documentation required
The most important documentation is the Client’s Hospital Records. This documentation will usually contain their Doctor’s Records, Operation Records, Nursing Records, Out-Patient Clinic Records and Correspondence.
There may be ultrasound scans and CTG (cardiotocograph) tracings as well as X-rays and CT or MRI scans. If these are related to the event in dispute then copies of these will be of help to the Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist when he/she is preparing his/her Report.
An account of events by the Client and/or the Client’s family will be of assistance to the Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist. Copies of the Client’s Attendances with their Solicitor will also help to clarify the areas of care that are at issue in the case.


Time-scale for the Report
Once we have confirmation to proceed with the Report the Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist can usually prepare his/her Report within 8 to 10 weeks. If a Report is needed urgently we will endeavour to have it prepared sooner than this.


Price of the Report
Once we receive all the documentation we will provide you with a quotation for the price of the Report from the Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist. If you decide to go ahead with the Report we will have it prepared and we will forward it to you on receipt of payment.
If you decide not to go ahead with the Report after receiving the quotation we will return all the documentation to you and there is no charge.


Queries on the Report / Addendums
The Reports from the Consultant Obstetricians & Gynaecologists are usually very clear and give a concise opinion on the standard of care the Client received.
If minor clarifications are needed then these will be provided at no extra cost.
If, after the Report has been completed, additional documentation needs to be examined by the Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist or if additional work needs to be done in order to provide an Addendum to the Report, then there may be an additional charge. If so, we will inform you of this and only proceed with your approval.


Client Examination
The Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologists do not normally need to see the Client in order to prepare a Report on the standard of care he/she has received. They can usually prepare their Report from the case notes and other documentation.
If the case does progress and a Report is needed on the Client’s current medical condition and/or prognosis for the future, then it is likely that the Client will need to see the Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist for an examination and we can make the necessary arrangements.