Despite advancements in science and healthcare, U.S. maternal death rates are rising. According to the National Vital Statistics System, maternal mortality rates increased from 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018 to 32.9 in 2021.
Many of these deaths are preventable. When healthcare providers fail to prevent maternal death with reasonable interventions, they could be liable for medical malpractice.
What are the common causes of maternal death?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), major complications cause 75 percent of all maternal deaths. These include:
- Severe bleeding, usually after childbirth
- Infections
- High blood pressure during pregnancy
- Complications caused by delivery
- Heart conditions
- Blood clots
Other factors can increase a mother’s risk of death, such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and being over 40 years old.
When does maternal death become medical malpractice?
All healthcare professionals must abide by the standards set by their industry. Generally, this means they need to follow established guidelines, practices and protocols within their field.
For labor and delivery teams, examples of standards include:
- Diagnosing and properly treating pregnancy-related issues
- Ensuring a safe and sterile environment during birth
- Monitoring the mother’s progress and vital signs during labor
- Providing proper medications
- Ordering emergency C-sections when necessary
- Monitoring the mother’s condition after delivery
When a medical professional strays from these standards and directly causes the mother’s death, they could be liable for negligence. This means you may be able to file a malpractice case against them.
How can you take legal action?
Filing a lawsuit against the negligent provider can help provide compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, funeral expenses and other damages. While money will never be enough to ease such a tragedy, it can help take some financial burden off your family.
To start, gather all relevant hospital records, such as documents related to pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery care. Testimonies from family members and medical experts can also help prove the provider’s negligence.
Consider speaking to an attorney who can guide you through the entire process. They can help you investigate what happened, collect strong evidence and seek the compensation your family deserves.