About 20% of 2,402 women involved in a survey experienced medical mistreatment during their pregnancy and delivery, as per a recent report released by the CDC. The survey shows that mistreatment is common in maternity care, with higher incidences seen in a few racial groups. Women without insurance or with public insurance and those of color races face the highest level of mistreatment.
Medical mistreatment, particularly during pregnancy, leads to serious consequences, causing harm to both mothers and babies. For instance, if the mother has an untreated infection, it could be passed to the newborn, which is a cause of cerebral palsy, and consequent disability.
At least 1 in 5 Women Reported Some Form of Medical Mistreatment During Pregnancy
Though mistreatment during maternity care is different from abuse, both are serious problems. Abuse in medical treatment includes physical, sexual, or verbal harm. It can be considered medical negligence when it breaches professional standards of care. Often, maternity mistreatment involves showing disrespect to the patient's needs, which leads to unmet patient care, harming both the baby and the mother. The CDC survey reported the following factors affecting pregnancy care mistreatment:
- Discrimination (race, age, weight, ethnicity, income, or type of insurance coverage)
- Forcing to undergo unwanted medical procedures
- Not respecting patient's privacy
- Verbal abuse (scolding or shouting by healthcare personnel)
- Unanswered/ignored requests for medical help
- Threatening that treatment will be denied
A clear link between racial discrimination in maternity care and adverse pregnancy outcomes was established after analyzing over 13,000 records, as per a BMJ Global Health study published in 2022. A higher death rate of mothers during childbirth was reported among Black and Hispanic women. Women without any insurance experienced the highest level of mistreatment, at 28%, and those with public insurance reported a mistreatment rate of 26%, and women with private insurance experienced the lowest rate of mistreatment, at 16%. Proper care during pregnancy, delivery, and after childbirth is essential not only to ensure expectant mothers receive the care they deserve but also to avoid adverse health outcomes. If women who ask for medical help do not receive it, pregnancy-related complications occur, which can lead to preventable birth injuries.
Seek Legal Help from Sean M. Cleary for Medical Mistreatment During Pregnancy
If you were mistreated during pregnancy or childbirth, you need to raise your voice. At the same time, if your baby was injured because of the mistreatment during delivery, reach out to Sean M. Cleary for a case evaluation. He can provide you with the necessary legal support and guidance. With his extensive experience in personal injury claims, he will help you file a birth injury claim and receive the maximum possible financial compensation that you deserve.