Montgomery v Lanarkshire (2015) – what are the implications for research nurses?

There is much in the medical and nursing press about this case and the implications of it particularly on receiving consent from patients and what we should be disclosing about specific risks. This blog is to explore some of the reasons why this is such an important judgement by the Supreme court and what it means for us as research nurses.

The Case

In 1999 Mrs Montgomery gave birth to a little boy in Bellshill Maternity Hospital, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Her pregnancy was identified as “high risk” due to Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)and she was under the care of a consultant throughout. This consultant was to be the focus of 2 negligence charges, both of which were initially rejected in 2010, before the case was considered again on appeal by the Supreme Court in 2015.

It’s a hard and sad case to read through; the decision to carry on with…