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March 1988, Vol 142, No. 3 >
Article | March 1988

The Legal Imperative and the Meconium-Stained Newborn-Reply FREE

SAMUEL SEPKOWITZ, MD
Am J Dis Child. 1988;142(3):250-251. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1988.02150030016004.
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In Reply.—Thank you for your letter of support. As we agree on so much, permit me to show you why a physician such as you, dedicated to practicing good medicine, is part of the problem both of us want to correct. When a physician uses phrases like "standard care" and "standardized guidelines," the physician has been duped and subtly tyrannized by the law and the body politic—the legal imperative. This is the consummate success story of authoritarianism: unwittingly, you think as the authorities want you to and act for them.

It has not always been so, but national standards in medicine have evolved into essential legal instruments that the legal imperative enforces. Legal actions are dependent on standards provided by physicians:

Professional negligence or malpractice is a special instance of negligence in which professional standards of care have been developed for persons possessing or claiming to possess special knowledge

REFERENCES

1 +
Faden RR, Beauchamp TL: A History and Theory of Informed Consent . New York, Oxford University Press, 1986;, p 29.
2 +
Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics , eds 16-20. Elk Grove Village, Ill, American Academy of Pediatrics, 1970-1986;.
3 +
Committee on Fetus and Newborn: Standards and Recommendations for Hospital Care of Newborn Infants , eds 4-6. Elk Grove Village, Ill, American Academy of Pediatrics, 1964-1977;.
4 +
Committee on Fetus and Newborn, Committee on Obstetrics: Maternal and Fetal Medicine: Guidelines for Perinatal Care . Elk Grove Village, Ill, American Academy of Pediatrics/American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1983;.
5 +
Gregory GA, Gooding CA, Phibbs RH, et al:  Meconium aspiration in infants: A prospective study . J Pediatr 1974;;85:848-852.
6 +
Ting P, Brady JP:  Tracheal suction in meconium aspiration . Am J Obstet Gynecol 1975;;122: 767-771.
7 +
Carson BS, Losey RW, Bowes WA Jr, et al:  Combined obstetric and pediatric approach to prevent meconium aspiration syndrome . Am J Obstet Gynecol 1976;;126:712-715.

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

References

1 +
Faden RR, Beauchamp TL: A History and Theory of Informed Consent . New York, Oxford University Press, 1986;, p 29.
2 +
Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics , eds 16-20. Elk Grove Village, Ill, American Academy of Pediatrics, 1970-1986;.
3 +
Committee on Fetus and Newborn: Standards and Recommendations for Hospital Care of Newborn Infants , eds 4-6. Elk Grove Village, Ill, American Academy of Pediatrics, 1964-1977;.
4 +
Committee on Fetus and Newborn, Committee on Obstetrics: Maternal and Fetal Medicine: Guidelines for Perinatal Care . Elk Grove Village, Ill, American Academy of Pediatrics/American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1983;.
5 +
Gregory GA, Gooding CA, Phibbs RH, et al:  Meconium aspiration in infants: A prospective study . J Pediatr 1974;;85:848-852.
6 +
Ting P, Brady JP:  Tracheal suction in meconium aspiration . Am J Obstet Gynecol 1975;;122: 767-771.
7 +
Carson BS, Losey RW, Bowes WA Jr, et al:  Combined obstetric and pediatric approach to prevent meconium aspiration syndrome . Am J Obstet Gynecol 1976;;126:712-715.

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