Most people probably think of the United States as having one of the best
healthcare systems in the world. Indeed, here in Houston and throughout
the state of Texas and beyond, expecting mothers often receive top-notch
medical care. It is rare that pregnancy-related injuries occur in the
medical setting, but when they do, families can find themselves in devastating
situations.
Interestingly, recent media reports indicate that the maternal mortality
rate in the United States appears to be on the rise. The U.S. is one of
just eight nations where the rate is increasing rather than decreasing
or staying the same. The figures are startling: in 1987, there were just
over seven maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in the United States.
The number of maternal fatalities more than doubled between 1987 and 2011,
when there were nearly 18 deaths per 100,000 U.S. live births. These numbers
are according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What could be behind this rise in the number of mothers dying as a consequence
of childbirth and pregnancy? A researcher for the CDC notes that several
factors could be at play, including more older women giving birth, a huge
rise in the number of C-sections performed in the U.S., lack of access
to maternal care and better reporting methods. In addition, complications
due to obesity, such as hypertension and diabetes, can also put mothers at risk.
Pregnancy-related injury, including fatal injury, can be the result of
delivery room negligence as it pertains to the above factors. A botched
C-section can endanger a woman’s life, while negligent monitoring of diabetes
or high blood pressure can put both mother and baby in danger. Families
who have been affected by maternal death in the medical setting can find
a trusted resource in a Houston wrongful death attorney.
Source: Fox 8, “Why is the maternal mortality rate going up in the United
States?,” Kelly Wallace, Dec. 2, 2015
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