Organization of obstetric care under legal aspects

For physicians the legal risk associated with professional duties has continuously increased over the last decade. In Germany it is estimated that more than 10,000 new civil-procedures are instituted each year for alleged medical malpractice and more than 3,000 preliminary investigations by public prosecutors are initiated. In addition the increasing number of proceedings before expert commissions and arbitration boards must also still be considered. This development particularly affects obstetrics because due to the nature of the situation with re-spect to severely injured newborns it follows that high sums for compensation are always the center of discussion. Accusations of insufficient organization are often concealed behind these accusations of malpractice and insufficient informed consent. As a result of this organizational aspects become particularly significant especially in obstetric care.