Although Nora and I had been friends for years, this was the first time she had ever spoken to me about a childbirth case—especially one that ended so tragically. Hearing her recount it left a heavy weight in my chest.

Now I understood why she usually avoided talking about her work. Still, imagining the pain that family must have felt—losing both the mother and the baby—was gut-wrenching.

But none of this was Nora's fault. I knew her too well; she respected ...