In the United States, this cheerleader who died in childbirth reignites the debate on medical racism

A new case of medical racism in the United States? Kristal Andersonformer Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader, she is he died of medical complications, while she was pregnant and in relatively good health. And according to her husband Clayton Anderson, this death could have been avoided, the doctors being negligent, his wife being black. A question that would have been due to Mediterranean syndromethis racist prejudice that leads to medical negligence.

A high-risk pregnancy treated late

To understand his reasoning, let’s go back. It was last November that Krystal Anderson and her husband Clayton Anderson found out they were having a baby. But they remain cautious: Krystal had already given birth to a stillborn child a year earlier and, being 40 years old, her pregnancy is considered at risk. Despite this, Clayton Anderson claims to do soABC News that the care and medical monitoring provided to the wife and fetus were not sufficient.

“ Krystal is 40 years old, she is black, we have suffered loss before. But even then, doctors say it’s not possible to start a proper fetal medicine plan for high-risk pregnancies until the 14th week.. »

Clayton Anderson

It was during the 16th week of pregnancy, last February, that Krystal had her uterine fibroids removed and underwent a cerclage procedure to try to keep the pregnancy viable. Despite this major operation, she is told her next doctor’s visit it will not take place before the twentieth week of pregnancy. Doctors had planned to hospitalize Krystal Anderson in a specialized department if she managed to reach 22 weeks.

Crystal Anderson dies of sepsis, which mostly affects black women during pregnancy or childbirth

But earlier she was rushed to hospital due to back pain. No heartbeat was detected in the child. Doctors gave Krystal an epidural and tried to let her give birth, which she was unable to do. Their child was stillborn.

Read also: What is it Mediterranean syndromethis racist prejudice that leads to medical negligence?

The couple had only a few hours to mourn the loss of their daughter, because very soon the woman showed signs of sepsis, disease that disproportionately affects women of color during pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum. After surgery, Krystal was put on a ventilator and on dialysis due to kidney failure. He died a few days later, on March 20.

“ Any pregnancy carries a high risk, especially if you are a black or older woman. But they must be treated as high-risk patients from the beginning of pregnancy said her husband Clayton Anderson. Before adding: Waiting for a person who has suffered a loss to go four weeks between visits to the doctor… It’s the same protocol that applies to a 23-year-old in excellent health. There cannot be a universal solution “.

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