Most obstetric litigation centers on bleeding. Of all the obstetric related medicolegal cases, 80% care following a caesarian delivery and 20% are due to mishaps following normal labor. Over half the cases in either category have an element of obstetric bleeding as a complication factor. Circumstances of Obstetric Bleeding: 1. Consent and Bleeding Emergencies Every so often a doctor is faced with a bleeding patient with no possibility of legally valid consent for the necessary intervention.
The law supports the doctor in such situations. Any harm caused to a person in good faith even without the person’s consent is not an offense. There may be situations in which it is impossible for the person to sign the consent and there is no lawful guardian available to do so, then the doctor may proceed with treatment in good faith, as per the Section 92, IPC. Case instance: A patient admitted for…
