Medical malpractice: cerebral palsy and radiologic injury patterns

Abstract

Numerous aspects of Bodiat’s¹ opinion-piece require a response in the interests of a broader understanding of hypoxic foetal brain injury. Bodiat is of the incorrect opinion that any sudden injury affecting the foetus without apparent warning is an instance of adverse outcome to which no liability can be attached. An obvious example is injudicious clinical management leading to a sudden crisis. Bodiat also misleads the readership by implying that radiologically termed “acute” foetal injury always results from a perinatal sentinel event (PSE).