Midwives and obstetricians are involved in making critical decisions regarding the safety of both the mother and child; hence, an adequate collaboration between them is imperative. This study aimed to identify issues in midwife-obstetrician collaborations by examining three representative perinatal medical malpractice court cases between 1999 and 2021. In Japan, researching judicial decisions is considered literature research; therefore, an ethical review was not necessary.
A legal database was comprehensively searched using keywords "medical accident" and/or "childbirth," yielding 122 relevant cases, of which three were selected based on specific criteria. Three cases were selected from this pool for the present study. The selection criteria focused on cases where plaintiffs prevailed and where collaboration between midwives and obstetricians played a significant role.
In Case 1, the midwife's prompt recognition of potential risks and the implementation of preventive measures were deemed necessary. Case 2 highlights the importance of practical skills and decision-making. Regular training of midwives during neonatal resuscitation is crucial. Case 3 emphasizes the midwife's role in independently monitoring the fetal heart rate and accurately interpreting the readings, encouraging exercising judgment and taking appropriate action.
This study emphasizes the need for midwives and obstetricians to leverage their respective expertise, maintain constant communication, and collaborate to provide optimal care and prevent medical accidents. This study highlights that solely relying on waiting for a physician’s instructions is insufficient in safeguarding the life of a mother and newborn. Recognizing problems with such collaborations and addressing them in postgraduate education is essential.

Authors:
Yumiko Yamazaki, Kawasaki City College of Nursing, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Professor YUMIKO YAMAZAKI is a University Professor/Principal Lecturer at Kawasaki City College of Nursing in Japan

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