Preventable deaths are a major issue  in the U.S. healthcare system, and maternal mortality is one very concerning contributor. For instance, four out of five pregnancy-related deaths are avoidable. Just recently, a medical examiner’s report showed that Olympic medalist Tori Bowie tragically died from childbirth complications. Despite being one of the richest nations in the world, the U.S. has double the number of maternal deaths compared to other developed countries. This is the dangerous reality of being a pregnant person in the U.S.

When you parse the data by race, Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native people are disproportionately impacted in this crisis. As a second-year medical student considering a specialty in obstetrics and gynecology, I feel distraught by what is in store for my future patients. As healthcare professionals, we have a duty to advocate for policies that protect our patients. We can and must take action now. One policy that has the potential to turn this around is making the 12-month […]