Amnesty: Maternal health not addressed

WASHINGTON, March 12 (UPI) -- Amnesty International says healthcare reform proposals in the U.S. Congress fail to address the crisis of maternal health in the United States.

In a report released Friday, the organization said its analysis indicates the legislation won't fix the problems.

"Reform is primarily focused on healthcare coverage and reducing healthcare costs, and even optimistic estimates predict that any proposal on the table will leave millions without access to affordable care," said Rachel Ward, one of the authors of the report.

Ward says the proposed legislation doesn't address discrimination, systemic failures and the lack of government accountability documented in Amnesty International's latest report on maternal healthcare.

The report, entitled "Deadly Delivery: The Maternal Health Care Crisis in the USA," says the lifetime risk of maternal death in the United States is greater than in 40 other countries.

Obstacles to care are widespread in the United States, especially for minorities, the report says.