A woman dies 6 months after an abortion performed at 10 weeks of gestation. The death resulted from pulmonary embolism that the certifying physician judged to be related to the abortion. How should this death be classified?
- A Maternal death
- B Pregnancy-related death
- C Late maternal death ✓
- D Incidental death
Correct answer: C. Late maternal death
Explanation
ICD classifies deaths from obstetric causes occurring between 42 days and one year after termination of pregnancy as late maternal deaths. A standard maternal death must occur during pregnancy or within 42 days of termination, so option A fails on timing. Pregnancy-related death has no requirement that the cause be obstetric, while incidental death excludes both direct and indirect obstetric causes entirely.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.