Compound presentation occurs when the part of the fetus closest to the birth canal (usually the head) presents with an extremity next to it (usually hand or arm) (1). It has been estimated to affect less than 0.004% of pregnancies. What are the causes of compound presentation? Compound presentation can occur as a result of…
A recent New York Times investigation revealed shocking rates of mortality in children who underwent pediatric heart surgery at North Carolina Children’s Hospital, which is part of the University of North Carolina (UNC) health system. The exposé (1), written by Ellen Gabler and published on May 31st, 2019, details how UNC higher-ups repeatedly dismissed cardiologists’…
Rebekah “Moani” Daniel was a labor and delivery nurse at the Naval Hospital Bremerton. When it came time to give birth herself, she arranged to do so at that same military hospital. Shockingly, the 33-year-old servicemember bled to death shortly after delivering her daughter, Victoria. Her husband, U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Commander Walter Daniel, believed…
Introduction Worldwide, there are about 2.6 million stillbirths each year (1), 24,000 of which occur in the U.S. (2). Our rate of stillbirth is higher than that of many other developed nations. For example, it is more than double the rate in Iceland (3). This regional variation in stillbirths demonstrates that many of these deaths…
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are some of the most common infections (1). Although anyone can get a UTI, women are more susceptible because they have shorter urethras, which makes it easier for bacteria to ascend into the bladder. At least 60% of women experience a lower urinary tract infection (involving the urethra and bladder) during…
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is essential to the survival of many premature and sick infants. However, babies in the NICU may also be exposed to certain types of harm, including neurotoxic chemicals (such as phalates and phenols), restricted social interaction (which can hinder bonding and language development), and abnormal light and sound stimuli…
The likelihood of a woman dying from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes in the United States is higher than that of a woman in any other developed nation. Currently, the rate of maternal mortality (estimated at 26 out of 100,000 live births[1]) is almost six times what it is in Scandinavia (2). It is higher even…
Drug companies artificially inflate the cost of their products to the Medicaid program.
