Ultraschall Med 2024; 45(03): 220-231
DOI: 10.1055/a-2285-8251

Prevalence, detection rates, quality specifications for sonographic screening examinations, and legal liability for failed detection of malformations Article in several languages: English | deutsch

Philipp Klaritsch

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In the final months of the year 2023, a ruling of the Austrian Supreme Court of Justice (OGH) caused concern and uncertainty among many colleagues specialized in prenatal ultrasound examinations. In short, an Austrian gynecologist was found liable for damages and is required to assume all child maintenance costs because he failed to detect the complete absence of the fetusʼs left arm (amelia) during multiple ultrasound examinations conducted in 2018 including first-trimester screening and second trimester anomaly scan (OGH 3 Ob 9/23 d dated 11/21/2023).

The circumstances of the failure to detect the malformation are not known to the author and will not be discussed further. However, the case is used as an example for investigating the following questions:

Classification, etiology, and prevalence of transverse limb deficiency of the upper extremities

Ability to visualize the extremities with ultrasound and detection rates of transverse limb deficiency of the upper extremities

Quality criteria for sonographic screening examinations affecting the extremities

Current legal approaches

Consequences for physicians performing prenatal ultrasound examinations

Publication History

Article published online:
04 June 2024

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