Shoulder dystocia remains one of the most challenging and heavily scrutinised obstetric emergencies in clinical negligence litigation. When injury occurs, cases often turn on how promptly the complication was recognised, how effectively it was managed, and whether the clinical records accurately reflect the sequence of events during delivery. 

For clinical negligence solicitors, these claims frequently require close analysis of midwifery decision-making in real time - including recognition of dystocia, escalation to the obstetric team, the manoeuvres performed, and the timing and content of contemporaneous notes. Small discrepancies in documentation, timing, or escalation can materially affect arguments on breach of duty and causation. 

It will also explore common areas of dispute, including delayed recognition, appropriateness and sequencing of manoeuvres, communication and escalation, and the adequacy and reliability of clinical documentation - all of which can be pivotal to both liability and causation arguments.  

This session will help you to: 

• Understand how shoulder dystocia presents and how it is recognised during labour  
• Identify the key steps and manoeuvres used in managing a shoulder dystocia emergency  
• Assess common documentation issues that become central to breach and causation disputes  
• Interpret midwifery records, timings, and sequencing of events more critically  
• Strengthen arguments around breach of duty where recognition, escalation, or management is challenged  
• Appreciate how midwifery decision-making is analysed and tested by expert witnesses in litigation