When is a Maternal Death a Maternal Death? A Review of Maternal Deaths at the Mercy Maternity Hospital, Melborne

Endorses a recommendation that all maternal deaths occurring more than 42 days after the end of a pregnancy & up to 1 year be assessed for possible relationships with childbirth. In the reported series of 22 maternal deaths, six would have been excluded from reporting under previous criteria, including 2 deaths as a result of postnatal depression which led to suicide. 9 refs.