What is important here is that the current media focus on antibiotics causing cerebral palsy is not translated into a public perception that this is the only, or even the major cause of CP. I treat many children with cerebral palsy, the overwhelming majority of whom have suffered oxygen starvation at birth, sometimes as a consequence of medical negligence. Let's not shift the focus! Adequate training and accountability of medical, midwifery and ursing staff would cut CP cases more dramatically than refusing to give antibiotics.

I could not agree more with Andrew's comment. interestingly the anesthesiologists through their organization conducted a comprehensive review of closed cases and focused their members on the areas where problems were occuring repeatedly. They reduced the incidence of certain errors dramatically - and saved many lives in doing so. If medical practitioners - and legal practitioners - accept responsibility to improve their work there will be no need to get to "accountability". thanks for the comment Andrew!! - wayne parsons