Legal aspects of consent 3: the duty of care to inform.

Mrs Pearce was expecting her sixth child. The expected date of delivery was 13 November 1991. On 27 November when she saw the consultant the baby had still not arrived. She begged the doctor to induce her or to carry out a caesarean. He preferred to let nature take its course, and explained to her the risks of induction and a caesarean section. The baby died in utero sometime between 2 and 3 December. The delivery of a stillborn baby was induced on 4 December. She brought an action alleging that the consultant should have advised her of the increased risk of stillbirth as a result of the delay in delivery between 13 November and 27 November (Pearce v United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust, 1998).