Shoulder dystocia remains one of the most dreaded and litigated obstetric emergencies in modern maternity care. Though relatively uncommon — occurring in roughly 0.2 %–3 % of vaginal deliveries — its unpredictable nature and potential for severe perinatal harm mean that even expertly managed cases can have significant legal exposure.
In this blog, we’ll explore why shoulder dystocia leads to heightened OB liability, the role of system failures in obstetrics, and key clinical and process domains that can make the difference between safe outcomes and perinatal adverse outcomes litigation.