North Carolina Senate Considers Bill Named for Greensboro Officer Who Died During Pregnancy
Family of Greensboro police officer who died during high-risk pregnancy watches as state Senate considers legislation to improve emergency care for pregnant women.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — The family of Ciji Graham, a Greensboro police officer who died during pregnancy in November 2023, watched from the state Senate gallery Monday as lawmakers discussed legislation named in her honor that aims to improve care for women with high-risk pregnancies.
Sen. Natalie Murdock (D-Durham) introduced Senate Bill 907, known as the Ciji Graham bill, which would establish a program to help people with high-risk pregnancies quickly find appropriate medical care and create a hotline connecting medical providers with specialists for consultations.
“When the minutes really matter, the system unfortunately failed her,” Murdock said. “So we filed legislation to ensure that no woman or family has to navigate a high-risk pregnancy alone without clear and timely care.”
Officer’s Death Highlights System Gaps
Ciji Graham, who had a pre-existing heart condition, died in November 2023 while pregnant after doctors sent her home without treating her rapid heartbeat because of her pregnancy. She was unable to quickly obtain an abortion due to new restrictions enacted in North Carolina months earlier, according to ProPublica reporting published this year.
Carolyn Graham, Ciji’s mother, says her daughter would still be alive if North Carolina had more ways to help women with high-risk pregnancies during health emergencies. The family attended Monday’s Senate session alongside Graham’s boyfriend Shawn Scott and sisters Chevala and Casey.
Murdock said Graham would likely still be alive if she had received different medical care, but she wasn’t able to find it in time.
Proposed Legislation Details
The legislation would create a comprehensive support system for high-risk pregnancies in North Carolina. Under the bill, people with high-risk pregnancies who want to continue them would be referred to specialists in obstetrics or fetal medicine.
The measure would also establish protocols for cases where abortions are medically necessary or requested by patients. The specialist consultation hotline would provide medical providers with immediate access to expert guidance during urgent situations.
ProPublica’s investigation into Graham’s case detailed her efforts to find appropriate treatment as her heart condition worsened and her health declined during pregnancy. The report highlighted gaps in the state’s healthcare system for managing complex pregnancy cases involving serious medical conditions.
The bill represents an attempt to address systemic issues that can leave pregnant women with serious medical conditions without clear pathways to appropriate care when time is critical for their survival.
