I, along with thousands of other grief support workers, have dealt firsthand with the distress caused by the insensitive language used in our medical coding system, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

Currently, the term utilized to denote a miscarriage in these codes labeled as, 'spontaneous abortion,' a designation that brings additional pain to women who are already contending with the trauma of losing their baby. The language used in medical coding can be emotionally hurtful and may lead to confusion among women who are in a highly vulnerable state. There is a noticeable discrepancy between how doctors communicate compassionately—using phrases like "I'm sorry your baby does not have a heartbeat" or "I'm sorry you are experiencing a miscarriage"—and the clinical term "spontaneous abortion." This clinical language feels cold and unnecessary.

ICD-10 codes are used for classifying diagnoses and procedures and are typically found under the "Diagnosis" or "Dx" heading on medical reports, bills, or provider letters, and also in Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements from insurers. 

The medical community has made significant strides in adopting more compassionate language while dealing directly with patients, recognizing the pivotal role this empathy plays in a woman's healing process. Unfortunately, the same sensitivity has yet to be reflected in the ICD codes, an essential tool in charting women's medical histories.

With medical records digitized and accessible at a patient’s fingertips, patients are not required to be present with medical personnel to interpret or clarify the language in their records.

In the context of our society’s understanding of the weight of words, especially those associated with crucial aspects of human life, it is important that our medical nomenclature aligns with our shared values of empathy and support.

Therefore, this petition calls for a compassionate revision of ICD codes, replacing the term 'spontaneous abortion' with 'miscarriage'. This change will reduce the trauma associated with the loss of a pregnancy and support the healing process for countless women. Please sign this petition to encourage our medical institutions, policymakers, and people of authority to act with empathy and respect towards all women and change the language to support the heartbreak of their loss.

To help our organization directly in this fight, please click here or text an amount to (337) 216-1200 to give.

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