He has co-authored several articles on cerebral palsy and electronic fetal monitoring (EFM), which have been published in the Journal of Child Neurology, Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Journal of Childhood and Developmental Disorders, and The Surgery Journal.
Electronic fetal monitoring is based on a virtually non-existent scientific foundation, has a false positive rate exceeding 99%, and has not affected the incidence of cerebral palsy or any other neonatal malady. It has, however, increased the cesarean section rate, with the expected increase in morbidity and mortality to mothers and babies.
EFM is the cardinal driver of the worldwide malpractice litigation crisis centered around cerebral palsy. In addition, the daily use of this ineffective procedure creates a ethical dilemma of extraordinary proportions, as expectant mothers are not routinely provided with informed consent regarding EFM, which is performed to protect doctors and hospitals from lawsuits.
Dr. Johnston and his co-author propose linking EFM to the Daubert exclusionary evidence doctrine to end cerebral palsy litigation, and following contemporary ethical guidelines to provide women with a choice by telling them the whole EFM story, including the emerging evidence that cesarean sections may expose babies to the risk of future chronic diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders.