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19.
Chairman of the Committee, regarding the investigations
which should be made into the cause of death in all
cases in which women died during pregnancy, childbirth
or the puerperium.
The object of the Maternal Mortality Committee,
as explained in circulars 888 and 934 of the Ministry of
Health is to obtain a mass of information hitherto not
available as to the causes of death in a large number of
cases of maternal mortality. It is to be hoped that in
the course of time this information will be of value for
preventive purposes.
Arrangements have been made by the Borough
Council with their obstetric specialist, Mr. Alexander
Galletly, M.B., F.R.C.S., in accordance with recommendations
contained in the memorandum for his
services to be available in connection with their investigations.
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The Committee especially desire to obtain the help
and co-operation of doctors and midwives in these
inquiries.
If Maternal Mortality investigations are to be of
any value they must necessarily take up a great deal of
time on the part of the Medical Officer of Health, as
information must be collected from many sources. As
the details are to he ascertained after the death of the
patient it is not always possible to obtain an accurate
history of the case. At the commencement of the enquiry
the Health "Visitor of the district is usually able to give
information as to the case.
A personal interview with the doctor who attended
the confinement, or was called in by the midwife after
the confinement, is required, and if, as is usually the
case, the patient was admitted to hospital, clinical,
bacteriological and post-mortem reports can be furnished
by the Medical Officer of the hospital. The reports from
the hospitals are ol special value in connection with the
investigations.