Carolyn Barber, MD<p>Maternal mortality rates in the U.S. already exceed other affluent countries. A new study found that 537 hospitals (many in rural areas) discontinued their <a href="https://med-mastodon.com/tags/obstetric" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>obstetric</span></a> care over a 12-yr period. </p><p>Why? Childbirth is costly. “Services on other wards are often more profitable on a per-bed basis.”</p><p><a href="https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2024/12/05/many-rural-hospitals-closing-maternity-wards/4591733407738/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">upi.com/Health_News/2024/12/05</span><span class="invisible">/many-rural-hospitals-closing-maternity-wards/4591733407738/</span></a> <a href="https://med-mastodon.com/tags/press" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>press</span></a> <a href="https://med-mastodon.com/tags/obstetric" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>obstetric</span></a></p>