The recent death of Janell Green Smith, a certified nurse-midwife and nationally respected advocate for Black maternal health, has reignited urgent concerns about maternal mortality in the United States. Smith, 31, died less than a week after giving birth following severe preeclampsia and emergency surgery, according to a CNN report. Her daughter was born early but healthy.
Smith’s death reflects a troubling national pattern. Black women in the U.S. are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women: 47.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 18.3 overall. Many of these deaths occur in the critical postpartum period, when symptoms are too often overlooked or dismissed.
Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal death and can worsen after delivery. Black women are more likely to develop severe cases and less likely to receive timely, appropriate care, disparities tied to systemic bias and failures in maternal health care. Education, income, and professional expertise do not eliminate these risks; Smith herself had assisted in more than 300 births.
Many maternal deaths are preventable with proper screening, monitoring, and timely intervention. McKeen & Associates sees far too many cases involving preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications, including improperly diagnosed or managed preeclampsia. When warning signs are missed, accountability can help uncover failures, drive change, and provide families with answers.
Janell Green Smith should be here raising her daughter. Her death is a stark reminder that maternal care in the U.S. must do better, especially for Black mothers.