Pregnancy-Related Deaths Are Preventable

A new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not mince words. Evidence clearly reveals that “three in five pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. can be prevented.”

The CDC analyzed data on pregnancy mortality between 2011 and 2015. It also scrutinized information from 13 state maternal mortality review committees. The CDC defined a pregnancy-related death as “the death of a woman during pregnancy or within a year of pregnancy from pregnancy complication, a chain of events initiated by pregnancy or the aggravation of an unrelated condition by the physiologic effects of pregnancy.”

The Findings of the Pregnancy Mortality Study

• About one third of the deaths occur during delivery or the week after, most often a result of amniotic fluid embolisms, severe bleeding, high blood pressure, or infection.
• Heart disease and stroke account for more than one in three pregnancy-related deaths.
• About one third of the deaths occur during pregnancy.
• About one third of the deaths occur in the time between one week and one year after delivery, most often as a result of cardiomyopathy.
• Black, American Indian, and Alaskan women were three times more likely to die because of a pregnancy-related problem than white women.

Factors Causing Pregnancy-Related Deaths

• Missed or delayed diagnosis
• Lack of access to appropriate and high-quality care
• Lack of knowledge about warning signs (for patients and health care providers)

Suggested Solutions

Regardless of when, why, or how these deaths occurred, the report very clearly states that “every pregnancy-related death reflects a web of missed opportunities.” In other words, if health care providers and communities addressed the factors in a variety of ways, many of these deaths would have been avoided. In order to decrease the number of women who needlessly die as a result of pregnancy, the report suggests that we need to increase communication, increase access to preventative care, and increase patient education about warning symptoms.

Don’t Settle for Less

Quality care during pregnancy makes a difference. If you or someone you love has not received the high-quality level of care you are entitled to, Eisen Law Firm can help. Call our experienced Cleveland malpractice lawyers to discuss your options for legal recourse. To schedule your free consultation, call 216-287-0900 or contact us online.

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/pregnancy-related-deaths-us-prevented-cdc/story?id=62875845