Obstetrical Malpractice. Schuster was a featured speaker at the San Francisco conference on "Reducing the Risk of Obstetric Malpractice." His specific discussion topic was "Recent Medical and Legal Developments in Prenatal Diagnosis and Screening for Fetal Anomalies and Genetic Disorders" --- a topic that was explored in detail in a paper that he co-authored with attorney Stephen P. Wainer for the conference publication.

The emphasis of Bob Schuster's presentation was on prenatal and genetic testing. Fetal anomalies and genetic disorders are too often viewed as rare occurrences. But birth defects stand as the number one cause of neonatal mortality in the United States. As a cause of infant mortality in this country, birth defects are implicated at a rate more than 50 percent higher than preterm labor and low birth weight, more than 200 percent more than Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and approximately 500 percent more than Respiratory Distress Syndrome and maternal pregnancy complications. Congenital defects are prevalent in 1 percent to 7 percent of all births, and 2 percent to 3 percent require medical treatment after birth. The most common disorders are skeletal, but cardiac and dismorphic abnormalities are considered to be the most severe.

In response to these issues --- and to detect abnormalities and conditions that may affect maternal or fetal health --- various screening and assessment tests and procedures may be performed during pregnancy. The utilization of these tests and procedures has both medical and legal implications.