Negative Outcomes of Pregnancy and Childbirth"; "Forms of Care That Appear Promising, but Require Further Evaluation"; "Forms of Care With Unknown Effects, Which Require Further Evaluation"; and "Forms of Care That Should Be Abandoned in Light of the Available Evidence."
The publication is an innovative and important addition to contemporary obstetric literature. It is a reference work of first magnitude, which I enthusiastically recommend to practicing obstetricians and senior residents in training. It is probably beyond the scope of medical students except to help them review specific areas of controversy. The text reads well, the format is clear, innumerable illustrative tables clarify comparisons of therapeutic concepts and modalities, and an extensive bibliography rounds out each chapter. Incidentally, the bibliographic references go back as far as 1876 and are also as current as 1988.
The valuable message delivered in this publication is that, in contrast to the trial-and-error approach that has