Pro-Life?

Between 2003 and 2007, the average maternal mortality rate – defined by deaths that occur within 42 days of childbirth – has risen to 13 deaths per 100,000 live births, approximately double the low of 6.6 deaths per 100,000 live births recorded in 1987. Today, the United States ranks 41st in the world for maternal mortality, one of the worst records among developed countries. "Near misses", complications so severe that a woman nearly dies, have increased between 1998 and 2005 to become common – at one woman every 15 minutes. These disturbing trends are even worse for African American women and poorer women. Nationally, African American women are three to four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related death than white women. States in which poverty rates exceeded 18% had a 77% higher rate of maternal mortality than states with lower rates of poverty. More women now have risky pregnancies due to a surge in chronic diseases and adverse socio-economic conditions.

That women can still bleed to death after childbirth in 21st-century America does not seem to bother lawmakers too much. (In New York City, in 2004, haemorrhaging was the leading cause of maternal death – approximately one third of all cases.) Over the last seven years, federal spending for maternal and child health programmes has been reduced by 10%. Community health centres can be lifesavers for low-income women with no easy access to medical practices located in more affluent areas. In 2011, the federal budget for these centres has been cut by 660m. California has completely eliminated state general funds for maternal and child health. The state department of public health found that the pregnancy-related mortality rate rose from 10.3 per 100,000 births during the years 2000-2002, to 16.4 during the years 2006-2008.

SOYMB asks where is the American conservative "pro-life" campign lobby when it is most needed ?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jul/05/maternitypaternityrights-women