Three In Five Pregnancy Related Deaths Preventable

Pregnancy Related Deaths Preventable

6/3/2019 Medical Malpractice John Whitfield

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), pregnancy related deaths are defined as the death of a woman during pregnancy or within a year of pregnancy from pregnancy complications caused by a chain of events initiated by pregnancy or the aggravation of an unrelated condition by the physiologic effects of pregnancy.

While globally maternal mortality fell about 44 percent between 1990 and 2015, in the U.S. moms die in about 17 out of every 100,000 U.S. births each year, up from 12 per 100,000 a quarter century ago. The numbers are going in the wrong direction.

According to a newly released CDC study, three out of five pregnancy-related deaths can be prevented in America. Of the 700 pregnancy-related deaths that occur in the U.S. each year, about 31% happen during pregnancy, 36% happen during delivery or within a week after birth, and 33% occur one week to one year after delivery, the report states.

In addition, the report found “persistent racial disparities” as African-American, American Indian, and Alaskan Native women were three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related issue when compared to Caucasian women. Separately, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released new guidelines saying being black is the greatest risk factor for maternal death.

“An American mom today is 50 percent more likely to die in childbirth than her own mother was,” said Dr. Neel Shah, a Harvard Medical School obstetrician.

Leading Causes of Pregnancy Related Death

  • Amniotic fluid embolism
  • Anesthesia / epidural errors
  • Caesarian section complications
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Delayed diagnosis
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Infections
  • Lack of access to appropriate and high-quality medical care
  • Missed diagnosis
  • Preeclampsia
  • Severe bleeding
  • Stroke
  • Uterine rupture

Maternal Death Claims

The death of a mother during or after the birth of a child is not a normal occurrence in today’s modern society. Consequently, all maternal death cases need to be carefully evaluated to determine where the error may have occurred. A maternal wrongful death claim is a civil action wherein the plaintiff must prove the fatality was caused by negligent party or parties. The purpose of a wrongful death claim is to compensate surviving family members and the estate for any losses they experience as a result of a person’s death.

Pregnancy Related Death Lawyers

If you think a loved one’s death was the result of negligence by a doctor or hospital, contact the experienced birth injury and pregnancy related death attorneys of Whitfield Bryson LLP. By filing a wrongful death lawsuit, the surviving family members can ensure the person or entity responsible for their loved one’s death will be held accountable.