Kira Johnson died of haemorrhagic shock after a C-section, sparking a civil rights investigation that led to a settlement aimed at protecting Black patients against discrimination in maternal care. However, this progress was stifled by a new executive order from an incoming administration restricting civil rights enforcement. Studies show Black women are disproportionately affected by maternal mortality, being 3.5 times more likely to suffer pregnancy-related deaths compared to their white counterparts. Most of these deaths are preventable, emphasizing the urgent need for equity in healthcare practices to save lives.
Kira Johnson's tragic death following a C-section underscores systemic racial biases in maternal care, as Black women face a shocking disparity in pregnancy-related mortality.
The settlement reached with Cedars-Sinai aimed to protect Black patients against discrimination and improve maternal care practices, though it faced immediate pushback from the new administration.
Echols highlights that Kira's experience is reflective of a broader issue; Black birthing people are 3.5 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
The implications of the enforcement of civil rights and equity in healthcare, particularly maternal care, are crucial as maternal deaths, especially among women of color, are largely preventable.
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