Most Pregnancy-Related Deaths Are Preventable in the US, With David Goodman, PhD

More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths reviewed by Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs) may be preventable through specific, feasible changes at the patient, clinician, facility, community, and health system levels, according to David Goodman, PhD, who discussed new CDC maternal mortality data during an interview with Patient Care Online at the 2026 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting.

In the video above, Goodman explains why MMRC data are a critical complement to the CDC’s Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System. Although the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System provides consistent national data on pregnancy-related deaths, MMRCs conduct more comprehensive case reviews and can assess whether a death was preventable. Goodman noted that MMRCs typically identify 6 to 7 contributing factors for each pregnancy-related death they review and generate an average of 5 to 6 prevention recommendations per death.

Goodman also highlights how MMRC data broaden clinicians’ understanding of the leading causes of pregnancy-related mortality. Because MMRCs have access to more detailed information, they can evaluate injury-related deaths, including suicide and unintentional overdose, and determine whether they were pregnancy related. Using this approach, Goodman said mental health conditions were the leading cause of pregnancy-related death in both the prepandemic and pandemic periods. Other leading causes remained consistent across data sources and time periods: cardiovascular conditions, infection, and hemorrhage.

The conversation also focuses on persistent care gaps that contribute to preventable deaths. Goodman identified 4 contributing factor classes that appeared consistently among the top 5 across time periods: continuity of care, quality of care, knowledge, and access. These categories point to missed opportunities for earlier recognition, better handoffs, improved clinical protocols, patient education, and stronger linkage to care after pregnancy.

For primary care clinicians, the takeaway is that maternal mortality prevention is not limited to obstetric care. Goodman encourages clinicians to use CDC resources and state MMRC reports to understand local patterns in pregnancy-related deaths and identify opportunities for prevention in their own communities. These data can help clinicians recognize where systems are failing patients and where targeted changes may reduce preventable maternal deaths.