ATLANTA — A state committee tasked with investigating the deaths of women during pregnancy has been disbanded due to a leak detailing how two women died, according to the independent news publication ProPublica.
The Maternal Mortality Review Committee was established in 2013 and has studied maternal deaths from 2012 through 2020. However, this month, the committee members were dismissed, ProPublica reported.
The stories of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller grabbed national headlines when the news organization shared stories of how they died while seeking abortion care and the fact that their deaths were preventable.
Abortion rights groups argue that Georgia abortion laws played a role in the two mothers’ deaths.
According to ProPublica, state leaders claimed the committee was disbanded because information --- protected by HIPPA laws --- was leaked.
Dr. Sujatha Reddy said HIPPA laws are very serious and bar medical professionals from sharing most information with outside parties.
“We are not allowed to even give information as to when an appointment might be or when their next appointment might be. That is completely protected information," said Reddy, who is not affiliated with the disbanded committee.
She said the work they were tasked with requires everyone to operate with integrity.
“This committee has to be held to the highest standard. There is no room for error and there is no room for bias and the patient’s privacy comes first," Reddy said.
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Reddy added she hopes another committee can be assembled soon, so that members can get back to the important work of keeping new moms alive and healthy.
“What are preventable causes and what can we do better to save the moms in our country?" said Dr. Reddy.
11Alive reached out to the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the governor’s office in the hopes of getting a copy of the letter committee members received on Nov. 8 dismissing them. The only reply we received was from the governor’s Office, referring us to DPH.