Practical case note about shoulder dystocia in the case of G v NHS Commissioning Board

Justin Valentine has published a case note about the recent case of G v NHS Commissioning Board, focussing on (i) Erb’s palsy with potentially posterior shoulder dystocia and (ii) NHS resolution approach to settlement.

Shoulder dystocia is a serious complication of delivery where one of the baby’s shoulders gets impeded usually behind the mother’s symphysis pubis. It is an obstetric emergency which must be resolved quickly. It is associated with brachial plexus injury but there is a school of thought that such injury is entirely avoidable. In this case note Justin discusses the issues raised in a recent case of probable posterior shoulder dystocia which, in the event, was compromised.