AHRQ Issue Brief: Diagnostic Error's Impacts on Maternal Morbidity and Mortality

According to a new AHRQ issue brief, The Contribution of Diagnostic Errors to Maternal Morbidity and Mortality During and Immediately After Childbirth: State of the Science, emerging evidence suggests that that diagnostic error may play a role in severe maternal morbidity and maternal mortality.

Maternal mortality continues to be a public health crisis, with 20 to 80 percent of deaths considered preventable. This issue brief discusses what is known about the contribution of diagnostic error to maternal morbidity and mortality, explains the rationale for improvement methods, and outlines the research agenda needed to make progress in this emerging area of diagnostic safety.

Select to access The Contribution of Diagnostic Errors to Maternal Morbidity and Mortality During and Immediately After Childbirth: State of the Science.