Ultrasound Institute of Baltimore, 20 Crossroads Drive, Suite 211, Owings Mills, Maryland 21117
Malpractice suits related to fetal anomalies are now the most
common type of litigation involving ultrasound, surpassing ectopic
pregnancy. Missing an anomaly on a sonogram performed for a
standard indication, such as dating, is the most frequent type
of litigation. Other causes of litigation include invented anomalies
and unrecognized anomalies that are visible in retrospect on
the ultrasonic images. Rarer causes of malpractice problems
relate to failure to communicate the results of a sonogram in
a timely fashion, failure to inform the patient of the findings
about the sonogram at the time the patient is seen, and failure
to perform ultrasound studies for anomalies when there is clinical
indication to do so, such as elevated alpha-fetoprotein or polyhydramnios.
The level of protection given by the obstetrical guidelines
are discussed. Particular areas of concern relate to litigation
involving missed fetal heart malformations, spina bifida, absent
distal limbs, and twins.
