ABSTRACT
Urogynaecology procedures are undertaken for conditions that impact on quality of life rather than as a lifesaving procedure; hence, a woman's acceptance of risk may be different to a woman undergoing surgery for cancer/precancer. Litigation in urogynaecology has been on the rise and more so in the past few years due to the use of synthetic mesh for treating pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. All urogynaecology procedures have alternative options, both conservative and surgical, and patients should be counselled about all the options before proceeding to surgery. Clinicians should show a willingness to further counsel and refer patients when they consider a potential procedure that their treating clinician cannot perform, as clinical negligence claims relating to some procedures are often related to failure to give the patient a choice or a range of options including the option of doing nothing. The other reason for a successful negligence claim is the occurrence of complications arising from the actual procedure itself. An understanding of the principles of litigation in this area of practice should enable urogynaecologists to take due precautions to avoid receiving a claim for clinical negligence related to these procedures.
