ABSTRACT
Although the purpose of the first examination of the newborn is to confirm normality, there are some potentially life-threatening conditions, such as some forms of congenital heart disease, which are not evident in the first 24 hours of the baby’s life and therefore would not be detected (MacKeith 1995). Where the practitioner performing this clinical examination of the baby is new to the role, it is likely that she will have some concerns about the risk of litigation in the event of an abnormality being missed. For example:
What is the legal position of a practitioner who does not detect a congenital condition in a baby during the first examination of the newborn?
