Healthcare Worker Harshly Treats Mother During Childbirth, Resulting in Brother's Death Shortly After
In the United States, the history of maternity care is marred by systemic issues that have severely impacted maternal outcomes and trust in healthcare. This mistreatment, characterized by physical abuse, neglect, disrespect, and a lack of evidence-based practices, has disproportionately affected marginalized populations, contributing to the U.S.'s comparatively poor maternal morbidity and mortality rates.
One poignant example of this mistreatment can be traced back to a small-town hospital in an undisclosed year. A young mother, unnamed in this account, gave birth to her first son, Paul, only to see him die less than seven hours later. The circumstances surrounding Paul's death are a chilling reminder of the systemic issues that persist in maternity care.
The mother was left alone with a frenetic nurse who prevented the delivery, leading to fatal injuries for Paul. This mistreatment was not believed by the doctor and hospital staff, and the nurse continued to work at the hospital. The cause of Paul's death was initially reported as inhalation of birth fluids causing lung congestion, but a closer look at the death certificate revealed an additional "significant condition" - rupture of the liver.
The impact of such mistreatment is significant. The U.S. faces a continuing maternal morbidity and mortality crisis that exceeds outcomes in comparable countries, partly driven by disparities in respectful and equitable maternity care. Organizations like AWHONN emphasize the importance of comprehensive, respectful, and equity-focused maternal care to reduce preventable deaths and complications.
Studies also link a history of abuse—both during childbirth and prior sexual violence—to adverse birth outcomes like preterm birth, low birthweight, stillbirth, and increased rates of cesarean sections. Moreover, psychological distress from mistreatment can contribute to tragic outcomes such as maternal suicide, which is a leading cause of postpartum death.
Sadly, Paul's story is not unique. Approximately 20% of women surveyed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in 2023 reported experiencing mistreatment by health care practitioners during pregnancy and delivery. More than 1 in 8 parents who had a live birth in an April 2024 Columbia University study reported mistreatment by health care providers during childbirth.
Unmarried, uninsured, or LGBTQ-identifying parents are among groups most likely to experience mistreatment during childbirth. This underscores the urgent need for reforms emphasizing respectful, evidence-based, and equitable maternity care.
As Paul's family, we have carried the weight of his loss and the injustice of his treatment for decades. I, the writer of this account, only recently discovered Paul's story, finding his original hospital birth certificate in a pile of family photos. I shared with my sister the details of Paul's death and the violence that led to his loss.
I hope to encourage more research and discussions regarding patient mistreatment during maternity care by sharing Paul's story. By acknowledging and addressing these systemic issues, we can work towards a future where every mother and baby receive the respectful, evidence-based, and equitable care they deserve.
- The history of maternity care in the United States is marked by systemic issues, leading to poor maternal outcomes and eroding trust in healthcare, with marginalized populations disproportionately affected.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, organizations like AWHONN advocate for comprehensive, respectful, and equity-focused maternal care to reduce preventable deaths and complications.
- The mental-health and general-news sectors highlight the links between a history of abuse, including during childbirth, and adverse birth outcomes, as well as increased rates of psychological distress and tragic outcomes like maternal suicide.
- Crime-and-justice and parenting communities focus on the urgent need for reforms emphasizing respectful, evidence-based, and equitable maternity care, with unmarried, uninsured, or LGBTQ-identifying parents being among those most likely to experience mistreatment.
- Education-and-self-development emphasizes the importance of personal-growth and self-reflection in acknowledging and addressing systemic issues in maternity care, paving the way for positive change in the health-and-wellness sector.
- In the face of such systemic issues, it is crucial for general-news and crime-and-justice outlets to advocate for more research and discussions on patient mistreatment during maternity care, fostering a future where every mother and baby receive the care they deserve.
