Dr. B.O. Intones

Media Matters - O'Reilly falsely claimed that a pregnant woman's life could "never" be "in danger" from pregnancy complication: "On the October 11 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, Bill O'Reilly falsely claimed that it 'is never the case' that a 'mother's life is in danger' during the course of a pregnancy. In fact, there are several potential pregnancy complications that can threaten the life of a pregnant woman. For instance, an ectopic pregnancy, which the Mayo Clinic estimates occurs in '[a]bout one in every 40 to 100 pregnancies,' is a condition in which the zygote, a fertilized egg, attaches itself outside of the uterus and 'may destroy important maternal structures' with the potential to cause 'life-threatening blood loss.' According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ectopic pregnancies 'are the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the first trimester.' Additionally, other potential pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, which can cause HELLP syndrome and eclampsia, can also threaten the life of a pregnant woman..."