To the Editor:
In the article “More Mothers Are Dying, and It’s Preventable,” Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell brings attention to the pressing issue of maternal mortality and morbidity rates. However, there are alternative approaches we can take to address this problem. Firstly, we should improve access to abortion services for pregnant individuals at any gestational age if the mother’s life is at risk. Additionally, it is crucial to educate high-risk women of all ages about long-term, reversible contraception options, particularly intrauterine devices (IUDs).
To combat the shortage of medical practitioners, we should make it easier for older, retired professionals such as physicians and nurse midwives to be credentialed or re-credentialed across state lines. These experienced individuals can provide valuable expertise in healthcare.
One way to support the shortage of qualified professionals is to impose a surcharge on “vanity” practices, like cosmetic surgeons or concierge practitioners. Alternatively, requiring pro bono work from these professionals would also address the shortage issue.
Continuing diversity and inclusion training throughout one’s professional career is crucial to address unacknowledged biases. Everyone has biases, and it is important to ensure that healthcare professionals are aware of and actively work to overcome them.
Training doulas from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds to increase postpartum visits to at-risk women is another approach to improving maternal outcomes. Utilizing telemedicine and integrating nutrition and health classes into school curriculums can also have a positive impact on maternal health by addressing conditions like hypertension at a younger age.
Lastly, as suggested by Dr. Gillispie-Bell, universal healthcare is instrumental in reducing maternal mortality rates.
Andrea Stein
Palm Desert, Calif.
(The writer is a retired clinical professor of obstetrics/gynecology at the University of Southern California.)
To the Editor:
We commend Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell for shedding light on the causes of the maternal mortality crisis in the United States. She rightly emphasizes the importance of including midwives in pregnancy and birthing care.
In New York State, there is a missed opportunity to address this issue. Despite the passing of a law in January 2022 aimed at supporting the expansion of midwifery, the proposed regulations do not adequately remove the barriers to integrating midwives into pregnancy and birthing care. New York State has yet to establish a single state-licensed midwifery-led birth center, and it has not required the inclusion of midwives on hospital staff.
Governor Kathy Hochul should take action to modify these regulations and ensure that midwifery is included in pregnancy and birthing care. This is essential for safe and joyful pregnancy and birth experiences.
Mary T. Bassett
Richard N. Gottfried
Deborah L. Kaplan
Dr. Bassett is a former New York State and New York City health commissioner. Mr. Gottfried is a former chair of the New York State Assembly’s Health Committee. Dr. Kaplan is a former assistant commissioner at New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health.
U.S.-China Relations
To the Editor:
The article “As It Struggles, China Indicates a New Openness” correctly highlights China’s misguided belief that the United States was in an inevitable decline and that China would dominate globally. This resulted in China becoming increasingly aggressive abroad and repressive at home.
However, China failed to recognize that its remarkable growth over the past three decades was a result of its integration with the West and the liberal economic order. In 1992, Deng Xiaoping wisely advised China to “hide its strength, bide its time and never take the lead.” Unfortunately, the current generation of Chinese leaders has disregarded this advice.
While it is positive that China has realized it is not on a linear path to global dominance and is showing openness, the United States and the West must proceed with caution. The lessons from Deng’s advice should not be forgotten, and multilateral engagement needs to be reinvigorated.
Stuart Gottlieb
New York
(The writer is a former Senate foreign policy adviser and speechwriter, and teaches American foreign policy and international security at Columbia University.)
‘Underpaid and Undervalued’ Teachers
To the Editor:
The headline of Paul Krugman’s column, “No, ‘Socialism’ Isn’t Making Americans Lazy,” should have been followed by the subtitle “But Neoliberalism Is Making Them Sick and Tired.” In the field of education, we are experiencing a severe shortage of highly qualified teachers, especially in disadvantaged schools. The reason for teachers leaving the profession is not laziness or a lack of work ethic, but rather the fact that they are underpaid and undervalued.
The broader attack on unions over the past 50 years contributes to the misconception of the lazy worker. Workers who are undercompensated and undervalued, like many teachers today, will not work with the same enthusiasm as those who receive fair wages, have the power to collectively bargain, and enjoy full benefits.
Yes, Americans are hard workers, but many of them have little reason to be content with their inadequately compensated work.
Eric J. Weiner
New York
(The writer is a professor of education at Montclair State University.)
Admissions at Harvard
To the Editor:
Although I am retired and no longer involved with the Harvard Admissions Office, I worked there for 50 years. During my time, I learned that the majority of applicants were qualified to do the work, with many capable of graduating with honors. The children of alumni often presented exceptional credentials.
Occasionally, when reviewing applications of children of alumni who had top standardized test scores but had underperformed in the classroom or received poor recommendations from their schools, I would share a piece of folk wisdom: Being the child of an alum can “heal the sick, but it can’t raise the dead!” This wisdom still holds true, especially for applicants who haven’t fulfilled their own potential.
David L. Evans
Cambridge, Mass.
End the Senate ‘Hold’
To the Editor:
The Senate’s “hold” privilege, which allows one senator to block nominees and military promotions, should be eliminated. This outdated practice is harmful and undemocratic, thwarting the will of the majority. It is time to abolish this privilege, just as we have recognized the need to get rid of the filibuster.
Seth M. Bodner
Summit, N.J.
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