Report Finds Safety Initiatives Have Dramatically Reduced Harms During Childbirth But Are Unevenly Implemented

A report by Public Citizen, a not-for-profit organization, finds that while the prevalence of injuries and fatalities in childbirth is among the most anguishing problem in healthcare, solutions do exist, through the implementation of basic safety programs, to prevent a significant percentage of these tragedies.  The United States has a poor childbirth safety record, likely due in part to the failure of obstetrics practitioners to develop and adhere to standardized practices. In the past 15 years, methods to improve perinatal safety have been developed and adopted at certain organizations. These initiatives have been remarkably successful at reducing infant deaths and other adverse outcomes, according to the providers’ reports. But this cause for celebration is tempered by experts’ agreement that generally accepted best practices have not been comprehensively implemented across the country. This would appear to yield a conclusion that otherwise avoidable tragic events are likely continuing to occur where practices with demonstrated track records of reducing harms have not been put into place.