Opinion: Pregnancy-related deaths reflect how implicit bias harms women. We need to fix that
I have had babies, delivered other women’s babies, and worked in a bustling, diverse maternity ward. I know from my experience in all of these roles that we have created a health care system that too often fails women. So I now spend my days figuring out how we can fix it.
Health care encounters can be intimidating and scary, especially for women who are pregnant — a time when they are at their most vulnerable, worried not only about their own health and safety but also about their baby’s. There’s a power gap between doctor and patient: The clinician seems to have so much knowledge, and daunting decisions must be made. Now imagine having that fear and vulnerability compounded by feeling disregarded and not listened to.
