>Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1999 23:26:21 +1000
>To: Kathleen Fahy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>From: Jan Robinson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: RE: I hate the term "witch hunt"
>Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Bcc:
>X-Attachments:
>
>>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
>>--
>>This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics.
>>Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
>>--
>>This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics.
>>Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
>
>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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