>Dear Kerry,
>
>I understand why midwives hate to be associated with the term 'witch'. I
>also understand that the concept of a 'witch hunt' implies an organised
>system of terror and oppression such as witch hunts in the middle ages which
>is clearly not what is happening now. So why use the concept of witch hunt
>at all?
>
>Because in today's world the forms of oppression and suppression are much
>more covert and subtle. They operate at the psychic level to engender fear,
>silence and passivity. Oppression against midwives and women operates
>pervasively in our culture. This means that unless an individual has freed
>themselves from all the misinformation about the dangers of birth and
>midwifery then each of us, to a greater or lesser extent, participates in
>the oppression and suppression of midwives and childbearing women; even when
>this means we participate in our own oppression and we silence and terrify
>ourselves and each other.
>
>I think the concept of the witch hunt is still a useful concept because
>(even without the proof) I KNOW that the practice of independent midwives is
>much more scrutinised in ways of that lead to the attachment of blame when
>things go wrong, than are obstetricians or midwives who work in
>institutions. When I see midwives in independent practice picked off
>(however randomly) and made to answer charges, so that the pool of
>independently practising midwives gets smaller and smaller I think the
>concept of a witch hunt helps us to conceptualised what is going on because
>we certainly can't SEE that oppression and suppression working and yet we
>KNOW it is happening.
>
>I'd be happy to drop the concept of a witch hunt if anyone can provide a
>better concept to describe the cases against so many IP midwives and the
>resultant fear in the remaining ones. If we, as midwives, deny that there is
>anything sinister occurring this will lead inexorably, I believe, to
>midwifery being practised in only in institutions, under medical protocols
>and the demise of midwifery as an independent discipline. No midwife, I
>believe, wants to see this but maybe I'm wrong?
>
>Kathleen Fahy
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Kerry McGovern [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
>Sent: Friday, July 09, 1999 3:58
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: I hate the term "witch hunt"
>
>
>Hi all!!
>I'm a fairly "conservative" person when it comes to dealing with the
>bureaucracy and seeing what needs to be done and understanding why things
>are done. I can weave a good reasoning for most bureaucratic bungles.
>And, in doing so, I hope I can lead us out of the mire.
>But this one has me spitting chips.
>I heard a TV announcement this afternoon that a doctor has been charged
>with manslaughter for the death of a baby girl.
>The cyncial bit of me says "Well. There you go. Finally a doctor is being
>held accountable. Not before time. That proves the witch hunt thing is
>rubbish. Great."
>Then I heard the doctor's name.
>Guess what??? A doctor supportive of women birthing at home.
>Seems the witch hunt is alive and well
>What do you reckon???
>With reluctance
>Kerry
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Dear Kathleen, Kerry et al
You could call it all a vicious vendetta ... professional jealousy -
medicos against IPMs ... you just get used to it and ignore it and try not
to stoop to their level. I have personally had one of our local VMOs shout
loudly to all the world in one of our local labour wards that he would
"f...ing-well crucify me"... Charming man! Following that outburst he
wrote two letters to the Director of Nursing at the hospital where I was
employed stating that he did not believe I could be giving 100% to my job
there if I contracted with private clients outside the hospital.
Can you believe that! Coming from one who constantly used hospital
facilities to service his own private clients.
I believe there is also a very subtle vendetta being waged against midwives
in hospitals as well, especially against those who strongly promote
midwifery options. Often our nursing colleagues are involved in these
vendettas.
You could rename it the great "trash and treasure hunt" if you wanted..
.... LETS TRASH ANYONE THAT MIDWIVES AND WOMEN TREASURE!
Does anyone else know of examples like the following?
* recent shock sacking of the DON/M KEMH WA.
* side shafting of the NUM Maternity at Alice Springs out into the community
* title change for the DON at KGV.. now called the clinical NURSE COORDINATOR
One never hears these midwives complain about what has happened to
them.They were all great midwives and supporters of woman-focused care.
There must be lots more great midwives who seem to simply fade into
oblivion .. absorbed into nursing and forgotten and nowhere to go to
complain.
Can't wait for us to have a Midwives Act, a Midwives Board and a Chief
Midwife in each state and territory!
Cheers
Jan Robinson
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