New reporting system for maternal and perinatal deaths in Quebec

Quebec’s regulatory body for doctors has set up an online system for reporting deaths related to pregnancy, as well as the loss of a fetus or newborn. The Collège des médecins du Québec recently launched online reporting forms and procedures for these deaths, in hopes of gaining better insights into the factors behind these types of mortality. “It is not enough to know the figures for maternal and perinatal mortality,” the college stated on its website. “We also need to understand the factors associated with these deaths.” The college is also working on two guides, geared for perinatal care teams, on the analysis of maternal and perinatal deaths. There are also plans to publish a biannual report that will highlight trends in this area. Read: Most at-risk women for preeclampsia not given recommended prevention Ultimately, added the college, this information can help improve obstetric and neonatal follow-up and promote good practices, which could help prevent other tragedies. The new system is the result of years of work by the college’s task force on perinatality, whose mandate includes reviewing the circumstances surrounding maternal and perinatal deaths. Quebec requires any death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days of the end of pregnancy to be reported, regardless of the cause. Reporting is also mandatory after the death of a fetus or a newborn whose gestation is greater than or equal to 20 weeks, or whose mass at birth is greater than or equal to 500 grams. This requirement applies whether the death occurs before or during labour and delivery, or during the neonatal period, of between zero to 28 days. Voluntary terminations of pregnancy, including those done for medical reasons, are excluded from this reporting requirement. The reporting forms are accessible from the college’s website, through a secure section for members. All forms received will be scrubbed of information that could identify patients and their families. Read: High rates of trauma in Canada among forceps and vacuum deliveries: study

New reporting system for maternal and perinatal deaths in Quebec

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