The American Society of Forensic Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Forensic obstetrics and gynecology is the science of applying the medical expertise of the obstetrician-gynecologist to legal aspects of clinical practice, hospital care, peer review, arbitration, independent review, risk management and prevention, and quality management in addition to functioning as a medical expert witness in criminal and civil litigation. It encompasses:

1. Collection of medical evidence, interpretation of evidence, and testimony in criminal investigations and trials at the request of medical examiners, coroners, law enforcement agencies or prosecutors
2. Evaluation of medical records at the request of plaintiff attorneys, defense attorneys, medical malpractice insurance carriers, hospitals, medical licensing boards, peer review organizations, managed care entities or private practices with opinions provided regarding standard of care, injuries and causation
3. Consultation and education regarding risk management and prevention, quality management, medical malpractice tort reform, peer review, physician credentialing, granting and renewal of clinical privileges, and impairment of healthcare professionals
4. Education, promotion and recognition of actively practicing obstetrician-gynecologists fulfilling the role of medical expert witnesses in litigation
5. Advocation of medical malpractice tort reform including pretrial screening panels, arbitration and required filing of medical expert witness affidavits with complaints
6. Participation in the vanguard of continuing medical education as a special interest group of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
7. Advocation of catastrophic insurance funds to compensate losses sustained without evidence of medical negligence or care below the minimum acceptable standard
8. Education of healthcare professionals regarding deposition, court testimony, and our adversarial system of litigation
9. Provision of independent patient care and treatment review, including physical examination if so desired by the patient
10. Identification of substandard care by fellow obstetrician- gynecologists and development of corrective strategies
11. Advocation of voluntary recertification in obstetrics and gynecology by those exempt from mandatory recertification
12. Promotion of forensic obstetrics and gynecology as a recognized subspecialty.