Prosthetic valve dysfunction and the law: a case presentation from Nigeria.

The possible legal implications of the failure of a mechanical prosthetic cardiac valve have been reviewed within the framework of the Nigerian legal system. This is the sequel to a clinical case we had recently, of primary mechanical failure of a cardiac prosthesis which led to the death of a 19-year-old medical student. A short account of the case as reported by the physicians is presented. As there has been no such case before any Nigerian Court, this review draws heavily upon salutary lessons from the USA and the UK, where such, or related, cases are more prevalent.