, Columnist
Florida’s New C-Section Factories Will Put Moms and Babies at Risk
The Sunshine State lacks adequate maternity care, but private equity-backed surgical centers aren’t the solution.
Major surgery.
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A new law makes Florida the first state to let pregnant women receive C-sections outside of hospitals. It’s a fraught solution to improving access to maternity care in the state — and a rule change that puts women’s lives on the line.
Like many US states, Florida is grappling with a shortage of health care for pregnant women. According to the March of Dimes, some 20% of Florida counties are considered a maternity desert, meaning services are limited or nonexistent, and several other counties have low access. Some women would need to travel nearly 50 miles to get to the nearest birthing hospital.