U.S. maternal death rate is really a case of bad data A new study calls into question the extent of the maternal death crisis in the United States, which has long posted a disproportionately high death rate compared with peer nations. In Alabama, the group criticized state lawmakers for granting civil and criminal immunity to IVF clinics and providers. The National Vital Statistics System added a checkbox to death certificates in 2003 to note whether the deceased person was pregnant or had recently been pregnant.