Medical Negligence
Does maternity care discriminate?
Whilst strides have been made towards improving maternity care in the NHS, there are still clear differences in the outcomes of maternity care amongst people of different ethnicities.
When expecting a baby, there are many things to be excited about, and arguably even more to worry about, however this is when we come to rely on the healthcare system.
But with almost two thirds of maternity units in the UK providing substandard care, there is already cause for concern. In addition to this, some mothers are more at risk than others. Years of statistics, such as mothers from an Asian ethnicity dying at twice the rate when compared with white mothers, show that mothers of ethnic minority backgrounds are more at risk, and in some cases, even leading to death.
Research from MMBRRACE found that between 2020 and 2022, some of the main causes of maternal deaths in the UK include:
- Covid – 19 - Moderate to severe symptoms from COVID-19 have been linked to higher rates of preterm birth, high blood pressure or preeclampsia.
- Cardiac disease – such as Mitral stenosis, Regurgitant heart disease, Myocardial infarction and Cardiomyopathy.
- Blood clots - Thrombosis and thromboembolism was the leading cause of death in women who died during pregnancy or within six weeks of their pregnancy ending.
- Sepsis - Sepsis is a serious condition in which the body responds improperly to an infection. The infection-fighting processes turn on the body, causing the organs to work poorly Maternal sepsis is a significant cause of pregnancy and childbirth-related deaths worldwide, with a 10% mortality rate in the UK.
- Pre – eclampsia - a condition that causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and after labour. It affects up to 6% of all pregnancies and causes approximately 500,000 foetal deaths and 70,000 maternal deaths worldwide each year.
An overview of ethnic minority mortality rates
2019-2020
In 2019-2020, the difference in mortality rate when compared with white women was 4 times as many and 2 times as many in mothers from a Black ethnic background and mothers from an Asian background respectively.
2020-2022
The maternal mortality rate for Black women has decreased from 2019-21 but not significantly.
There were almost three times as many deaths amongst mothers from Black ethnic backgrounds.
The apparent disparity has decreased largely due to an increase in the maternal mortality rate amongst White women.
2023
The majority of women who died from COVID-19 were from minority groups, and this is reflected in an even higher overall maternal mortality rates amongst women from Black and Asian ethnic groups compared to White women.
The reports show that over the last few years, mothers from ethnic minority backgrounds are more at risk of death. There are many potential reasons for this, such as:
Pre-existing conditions: 60% of women who died in 2018–20 during, or up to six weeks after the end of, pregnancy had pre-existing medical problems
Socio-economic factors: The 2010 Marmot review found that “health inequalities result from social inequalities. Action on health inequalities requires action across all the social determinants of health.”
Maternity care: Many reports have highlighted the need for an improvement in maternity care, however very few have a focus on the difference between races.
Minority experience in Maternal healthcare
With news stories about the experience of ethnic minority mothers and their treatment appearing more commonly, patterns have started to become apparent.
MBRRACE assessors found commonalities amongst the Oral evidence taken before the Health and Social Care Committee on 15 December 2020.
- Women were often viewed as “not like me” by medical and care staff; there was a lack of consideration of cultural factors and women’s socio-economic background to enable the most appropriate individualised care for a woman, rather than “one size fits all” approach.
- Most women who die, across all ethnic groups, have multiple and complex problems which maternity services are not designed to be able to handle. For example, women attending different clinics for different conditions, and there being no communication between clinics.
- Microaggressions were a factor; for example, health professionals sometimes perpetuated racial or ethnic stereotypes, “such as Black women having lower pain thresholds,” and medical records sometimes inaccurately recorded women’s backgrounds, to the detriment of that woman’s care.
Self-advocacy
Advocating for yourself in a healthcare setting is important for many reasons. By making sure your voice is heard, and your concerns are acknowledged, you can actively participate in your own healthcare decisions.
Self-advocacy also helps to promote open communication and understanding between patients and healthcare providers. By asking questions, seeking clarification, and sharing relevant information, you can contribute to more accurate diagnoses, appropriate treatments, and improved overall care. It can also help prevent medical errors and ensure the delivery of personalised and patient-centred care. One in five people have been misdiagnosed by a medical professional so it happens more often than you would think.
Here are some valuable resources to help you feel confident in a healthcare setting:
Mary Seacole House: Liverpool’s leading mental health charity for BAMER (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic & Refugee)
Saheliya: offers mental health and well-being support for those in the Edinburgh and Glasgow area
Diversity Trust: promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion for all
How Slater and Gordon can help?
Every individual deserves equal access to healthcare, and fair treatment, regardless of their race and ethnicity. It is crucial discrimination does not become a barrier to receiving proper medical care. Discrimination based on race or ethnicity in healthcare settings can have serious consequences for individuals, undermining their trust in the healthcare system and leading to disparities in health outcomes.
If you've faced racial discrimination in a healthcare setting you can contact our medical negligence solicitors who can help you with your claim. For the majority of our medical negligence cases we operate on a no win, no fee basis. To find out more information you can contact us on 0330 107 6463 or online.