ABC News reports, with considerable excitability, a California study documenting increased rates of death, almost triple what it was ten years ago, among women who have recently given birth. Two reporters got to the point of nearly screaming -- "unacceptable!" -- " how can this happen in America?."
Still, I guess they should be given credit for at least admitting that the "trend" is probably statistically insignificant. It reflects 95 deaths out of 2 million or more deliveries. The trend, it is explained, may be explained by two factors, an increase in obesity of expectant mothers, and an increase in Caesarean sections. Both increase risks, but the former cause was mentioned only to be dropped; while the reporting focused on C-sections. (No way we would want to make overweight patients feel responsible for their own problem, now is there?)
I'm no doctor, but it seems to me there is probably another good explanation, too: More women having more babies late in life, when risks are higher; possibly even more women taking risks of the kind we see on TV - any risk acceptable (or ignorable) in hopes of bringing that baby into the world.
Either way, another "big news" story is born, as long as you can pick the facts you want to emphasize..
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