Mystery of the Missing Mortalities

Among pregnant women, overall mortality rates are on the rise, but researchers haven’t been able to explain the discrepancy with pregnancy-specific causes. If more pregnant women are dying, and if those deaths aren’t due to pregnancy, then why are these women dying?

A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that mortality rates among pregnant and recently-pregnant women increased 4.4% overall between 2015 and 2019. Those years saw similar increases in the mortality rate due to drug or alcohol poisoning (17.4%) and the mortality rate due to homicide (13.5%). The number of deaths due to pregnancy-specific causes, however, remained stagnant.

What these numbers suggest -- according to the chief researcher, Jeffrey Howard, PhD, from the University of Texas at San Antonio -- is that maternal morbidity isn’t just a problem of healthcare access and delivery. Data suggests that there is a broader set of social issues affecting the population of pregnant and recently-pregnant women that needs to be addressed.

The Case For More Research

Adding to the mystery, there is something uniquely vulnerable about this population within the United States. Maternal morbidity in this country is higher than most other high-income countries and has risen over the past few years (from 14.4 to 20.1 out of every 100,000 live births). Let that sink in -- America’s medical system is failing its expecting mothers. Like so much medical care in the U.S., there’s also a significant racial disparity, with Black pregnant women facing a much greater risk of mortality.

The researchers warned that all their estimates are conservative, as they are missing crucial data for evaluating causes of death in pregnant and recently-pregnant women. According to Dr. Howard, the findings underscore a need for researchers and policymakers to reconsider the way they collect data for pregnancy-related deaths and that a much broader analysis of pregnancy-related deaths is necessary.

Every Birth Injury – Including Maternal Death -- Deserves a Thorough Investigation

As the research highlights, there are many causes of death for pregnant women. Unfortunately, medical malpractice plays a role in many maternal deaths. If you or a loved one is concerned about medical negligence in the maternal care you have received, please contact our skilled Ohio medical malpractice lawyers to discuss your care and options for obtaining the compensation you deserve. The Eisen Law Firm has over four decades of experience advocating for victims of birth injury and medical malpractice and a proven track record of holding careless doctors accountable. To schedule your free consultation, call (216) 687-0900 or by contact us online today.