How the US medical community fails Black mothers

Summary

Wanda Irving describes the death of her daughter, Dr. Shalon Irving, after childbirth as an example of how bias and systemic racism can put Black mothers at risk. During the three weeks after giving birth, Shalon repeatedly sought help and clearly explained her concerns, but her providers minimized and dismissed them. Her education and professional standing did not protect her from being stereotyped or ignored.

Irving cites figures presented in the talk: 700–800 women in the United States die each year from pregnancy- and childbirth-related complications; Black women die at three to four times the rate of white women; and 60% of maternal deaths are preventable. She says the racial gap has persisted for six decades, arguing that existing efforts have not adequately addressed it. The effects extend beyond the women who die to their children, families, and communities.

Irving argues that maternal mortality is not simply the result of a few individuals or hospitals, but of a broader failure embedded in the health-care system. Better data and tools such as algorithms, checklists, and apps may help, but they cannot replace accountability. She calls on medical leaders to acknowledge the failure, take responsibility, and make concrete changes. Implicit-bias training alone is insufficient without explicit accountability measures.

To continue her daughter’s work, Irving says she and Shalon’s friends and CDC colleagues founded a nonprofit focused on preventing deaths among Black mothers. Their efforts include engaging stakeholders across public health and health care, promoting postpartum accountability measures in legislation, and conducting community-based research to redefine quality care for Black women. Irving also advocates empowering Black women and their birth partners to respond to bias and racism throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care.

Irving closes by urging people to use their influence and resources to challenge inequity, insisting that collective commitment and action can change the system.

Presenter: Wanda Irving