Fuzzy Fetal Monitoring Guidelines Won't Prevent Cerebral Palsy

Have you seen the new guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists? Released in July 2009, these guidelines further cloak doctors in fuzzy data and interpretation designed to prevent claims of malpractice or negligence.

The hallmark of these guidelines is the fact that there are fewer terms to define, and the terms defined are without any specificity. Rather than say "approximately," why not stick to a hard, fast, clear rule? Why leave a guideline open to interpretation and why allow data to be interpreted on a highly subjective basis?

We don't understand the adherence to this technology either. Since World War II, incident rates of cerebral palsy have been unchanged despite the increase in technology and monitoring. In a thousand distressed births, one or two babies will develop cerebral palsy. Either we don't understand the causes of cerebral palsy or doctors aren't monitoring the correct fetal and maternal functions.

For additional information on these guidelines, visit our sister site to learn more about cerebral palsy and fetal monitoring.