The Tragedy of Childbirth • Arresting and profoundly disturbing figures
on deaths in childbirth in certain regions in Scot!and are contained in the report of a Ministry of Health committee published on Monday. Out of 89,205 births examined there were 2,465 maternal deaths, and out of the 2,465 no fewer than ],447, or 58.7%, were declared to have been avoidable, some being due to faulty technique on the part of doctor or midwife, some to negligence on the part of the patient herself. It may well be true that malnutrition is also a factor of importance. It is certain at any rate that society cannot afford to let women be without adequate means at the time of child-birth,; and Sir Kingsley Wood, responding to pressure' from the House of Commons last Monday when the Health Insurance Bill was in Committee, did well in promising to reconsider the provision for maternity benefit.
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