The coming crisis

Wes’s uncle in Cleveland often clips newspaper articles that he thinks might interest us and sends them along. It’s always exciting to see an envelope in the mailbox with his return address, as it’s never clear what will be inside. To give an example, Wes’s aunt recently emailed me a video clip of a woman and her dog – a golden retriever – doing a dance routine to the music of “You’re the One that I Want,” from Grease. How many people do you know who would look for that on the internet? And how many of you would pass it along to anyone else? They’re a match made in heaven, I tell you.

In the most recent mailing, Uncle Moustache sent us a photocopy of an article found among Wes’s recently deceased grandfather’s belongings. It’s dated May 15, 1937! The article is in reference to the high mortality record among both mothers and children at childbirth. Check this out:

“The State of Nevada has been severely criticized because of the freedom with which marriages have been terminated in Reno; yet a legislator in that state recently introduced a bill which proposed to take care of mothers previous to childbirth and as long thereafter as needed. The law is to be so liberally construed that the mother need not even be a resident of the state, nor is it necessary for her to be protected by the marriage bond. This is indeed a shining example that could be followed advantageously by other states.

“Childbirth is distinctly a physical process, and the American tendency to ‘coddle’ our women has in many instances weakened and enfeebled the body – the main cause of the prolonged suffering and deaths at childbirth. Some medical advisers forbid vigorous exercise of all kinds during pregnancy. Even that activity which may be necessary in household duties is often prohibited. Adherence to such advice weakens and devitalizes the tissues which should be firm and strong for the coming crisis.”

I love that – the coming crisis. This guy has a way of phrasing things that just beats all. My favorite, perhaps, comes at the end, though:

“Medical ethics, which forbids a doctor to testify against a fellow practitioner regardless of how culpable he may be, should be changed. Perhaps this fault, if properly corrected, might do more than anything else to lower the high mortality record during childbirth.”

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure this is no longer the case. It may (or may not) have done a lot for lowering the mortality record, but it did a lot to increase malpractice insurance rates!