Georgia’s public health authority has dissolved the entire membership of a committee dedicated to reviewing maternal deaths associated with pregnancy, following an incident where information about two such deaths was apparently leaked.
In a letter dated November 8, state public health commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey communicated her decision, indicating that the breach of information constituted a violation of state confidentiality laws as well as agreements signed by the committee’s members. An investigation by the agency was unable to identify the individual responsible for the disclosure.

Reports from ProPublica in September highlighted that the Georgia Maternal Mortality Review Committee concluded that the deaths of two women could have been preventable. However, they noted that physicians were reluctant to perform necessary medical procedures because of Georgia’s stringent abortion regulations.
The incidents attracted widespread attention, becoming a significant topic during Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, especially as she advocates for reproductive rights following the Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade more than two years ago.

The committee was established to analyze factors contributing to maternal deaths during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth, with the goal of preventing future fatalities and health complications.
Many advocates have expressed concerns regarding the sudden disbandment of the committee, including Monica Simpson, executive director of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, a group that has filed lawsuits against Georgia’s stringent abortion legislation. Although a judge previously invalidated the ban, the Georgia Supreme Court reinstated it in October.
Simpson remarked, “It’s hard to comprehend a scenario where this committee’s absence might lead to lost access to essential data, which could inform better decision-making and organizing efforts for state healthcare.”

In her letter, Toomey assured that the reformation of the committee would not postpone its essential functions. According to her, the Georgia Department of Public Health plans to accept applications for new committee members in the upcoming weeks, while also ensuring enhanced oversight and confidentiality in reviewing cases.
Alicia Stallworth, Director of Georgia Campaigns at Reproductive Freedom for All, criticized the move, describing it as a deceptive tactic aimed at hindering comprehensive investigations into the circumstances surrounding maternal deaths. She emphasized the necessity for mobilization against anti-abortion activists, targeting Governor Brian Kemp for his role in implementing harmful abortion restrictions.

It is important to note that Governor Kemp does not control appointments or dismissals of the committee members, as it operates under the Georgia Department of Public Health, clarified spokesperson Garrison Douglas. He mentioned that Kemp endorsed a law in 2019 prohibiting abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, a point at which pregnancies may be only a few weeks along. The health department declined to elaborate further, stating that Toomey’s letter sufficiently articulates the department’s position on the matter.