A Guide of the Essentials of Placental Pathology for Today’s Plaintiff and Defense Counsels

October 12, 2023 4:30pm

Carolyn M. Salafia, M.D
Placental Pathologist
Placental Analytics, LLC

Gerald D. Jowers, Jr.
Partner
Janet, Janet & Suggs, LLC

  • Identifying why placental findings are relevant to obstetric malpractice claims
  • Understanding the basics of placental pathology
    • Gross exam
    • Microscopic exam
  • Assessing key placental growth abnormalities and umbilical cord abnormalities
  • Analyzing what the placenta tells us about intrauterine infection
    • Clinical and histologic chorioamnionitis
    • Bacterial and viral infections
    • Maternal versus fetal inflammation
    • Extent and duration of inflammation
  • Exploring the most common placental lesions
    • Maternal Vascular Malperfusion
    • Fetal Vascular Malperfusion
    • Villitis of Unknown Etiology
  • Examining meconium staining
  • Eliciting the effects of Nucleated Red Blood Cells
  • Outlining the limitations of placental pathology in obstetric malpractice claims
  • Reviewing the Plaintiff approach to placental findings in obstetric malpractice claims
    • When to retain an expert
    • When to bring a placental pathologist to trial
    • Risks of focusing on placental findings
    • Dealing with specific placental findings
    • Challenging the defense placental pathologist
      • Medical literature
      • Daubert / Frye
        • Court decisions on placental pathology