Medicolegal obstetrics

Pain during caesarean section under regional anaesthesia is now one of the commonest reasons for successful medicolegal claims against obstetric anaesthetists in the UK, despite neuraxial techniques being standard and generally safe. This lecture uses real case series and recent guidance to highlight four key areas—consent, block assessment, intraoperative pain management, and professionalism (records, communication and follow‑up)—and offers practical strategies to protect women from harm while reducing the risk of complaints and litigation.