Maternal Deaths Probe Call

The Age

Wednesday October 18, 2006

CAROL NADER

CORONERS should investigate every death of a woman during pregnancy or childbirth, a medical adviser to the State Government says.

A report to be released today shows that only 56 per cent of maternal deaths in Australia are investigated.

But one of the authors of the report, Associate Professor James King, said every death in pregnancy, childbirth and within six weeks of giving birth should be investigated.

A report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows there were 95 maternal deaths between 2000 and 2002 - a rate of 11.1 women in every 100,000 who gave birth.

This was up from 8.4 per 100,000 women in the previous three years. The increase was due to more stringent reporting and changes to how the deaths were classified.

Professor King said a coroner's involvement would have better explained some deaths.

He predicts that growing obesity rates will lead to more maternal deaths and contribute to more stillbirths and preg-nancy complications.