At my centre, it is not standard practice for certain obstetricians to request the presence of a paediatrician for standby during caesarean section operations. Consequently, in the event that a newborn is delivered flat and requires immediate resuscitation, the responsibility will inadvertently fall upon me to initiate the necessary resuscitative measures to ensure the well-being of the newborn, despite it not being within my designated responsibilities.
While I am committed to upholding the principles of patient care and acting in the best interest of both the mother and the newborn, I am also mindful of the potential medico-legal implications associated with assuming responsibility for neonatal resuscitation in such circumstances.
Therefore, I am curious in your opinions regarding the following aspects of my medico-legal liabilities in this context:
Standard of Care: What is the expected standard of care for an anesthesiologist in a situation where immediate neonatal resuscitation is required during a caesarean section, particularly when there is no paediatrician on standby?
Legal Obligations: To what extent am I legally obligated to intervene and initiate neonatal resuscitation in the absence of a paediatrician, considering that it falls outside the scope of my primary responsibilities?
Liability Protection: What measures can I undertake to mitigate potential medico-legal liabilities associated with providing neonatal resuscitation in situations where it is not explicitly within my purview?
Documentation Practices: What documentation practices should I adhere to in order to accurately reflect the circumstances surrounding neonatal resuscitation interventions and safeguard myself against potential legal challenges?