Obstetrics (Ob-Gyn)

Obstetrics (OB-GYN) Expert Witness

An Obstetrics expert witness is an Obstetrician who testifies about the care of pregnant women, labor, delivery, and managing peripartum complications.  Obstetrics, commonly abbreviated as OB, is a medical and surgical specialty dealing with the care and treatment of women during pregnancy and childbirth. In the United States, nearly all Obstetricians also practice Gynecology. Consequently, the field is often referred to as Obstetrics & Gynecology or OB/GYN. Although some primary care providers may perform basic gynecologic evaluations and deliver babies, these physicians are still generalists who lack formal training in the surgical aspects of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Obstetricians who have undergone formal specialty training and Board Certification will bear the credentials of the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

The field of Obstetrics involves both routine and “high risk” pregnancies, though the latter is often the domain of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists. Obstetricians manage a variety of conditions related to pregnancy such as hypertension, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, placenta previa, and placental abruption. They also serve as a woman’s primary care provider during pregnancy and handle routine medical issues that may occur. At the conclusion of pregnancy, Obstetricians may perform a variety of procedures such as routine vaginal delivery, Cesarean section (“C-Section”), forceps-assisted delivery, or vacuum-assisted delivery.

Litigation in Obstetrics is common, as Obstetricians are often named whenever there is a poor or unexpected fetal outcome. Typical allegations include failure to properly monitor the patient and fetus, failure to recognize signs of fetal distress, failure to perform delivery in a timely fashion, and failure to convert to a Cesarean section to avoid undue fetal distress. Such alleged breaches of the standard of care may result in fetal hypoxia (i.e. oxygen deprivation) with severe fetal harm or loss.  An experienced Obstetrics expert witness can distill critical issues.

Obstetrics (OB-GYN) Case Matter

From the treatment of routine pregnancy to the most complex obstetrical issues, Elite Medical Experts reviews all aspects of Obstetric litigation and consultation, including:

  • Hyperemesis gravidarum (nausea and vomiting in pregnancy)
  • Induction of labor
  • Shoulder dystocia
  • Vacuum extraction
  • Cesarean section
  • Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)
  • Postpartum hemorrhage
  • Cervical cerclage
  • Fetal heart rate monitoring
  • Neonatal resuscitation
  • Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
  • Gestational diabetes
  • Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
  • HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver tests, Low Platelets)
  • Multiple gestation
  • Placental abruption (abruptio placentae)
  • Placenta previa
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Fetal ultrasonography
  • Tubal ligation
  • Birth control (oral contraceptives, intrauterine device (IUD), Depo-Provera, Norplant, NuvaRing)
  • Menorrhagia
  • Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
  • Endometrial ablation
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Sexual assault evaluation
  • Pelvic pain
  • Endometriosis
  • Laparoscopy
  • Group B Streptococcal infections
  • Vaginitis
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Sexually-transmitted diseases
  • Cervical dysplasia
  • Cervical cancer
  • Menopause
  • Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
  • Infertility

Given the complex issues involved in Obstetrics, an experienced Board-Certified Obstetrics expert witness from a top university medical center is an invaluable resource for challenging assignments. To secure a hand-selected Obstetric expert witness who is ready to work with you, please contact Elite Medical Experts and speak with a physician or nurse on Elite’s experienced Case Strategy Team today.

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Dr. Burton Bentley II, the CEO of Elite Medical Experts, is a nationally renowned authority on medical liability, informed consent, and complex issues at the intersections of medicine, law, and business. As a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician and entrepreneur, Dr. Bentley founded Elite Medical Experts in 2010 while overseeing nearly a decade of year-over-year growth. Dr. Bentley also developed and patented a commercial medical device and co-founded Consent Spectrum, a state-of-the-art digital platform for informed consent in aesthetic medical procedures.  Outside of Elite, Dr. Bentley can be found spending time with his family and riding horses in Tucson’s riverbeds and deserts.

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