It is interesting that this discussion is happenning at this time. It
parallells current issues within the HMA.Your emails clarify for me what the
fuss is all about.
A few someones have been argueing that all this work we do to getr our
program regiostereed is a waste of precioua mothers energy because we are
again setting up the situation where midwives are being separated form
mothers so that we can live up to the system's values.They argue that we can
have our own system of partnership...
How, I'm not yet sure, because I personally choose to employ a person with a
modicum of knowledge about birth whereas this lobby is about women as
midwives and advocating "freebirthing" (as in without a "professionsl" to
dominate).
So I reckon the only path left is to cooperate with consumers in order to
let them design the service which you are providing. This requires a close
supportive community framework, I beleive, and is difficult to implement in
the safe obscurity of a busy (and anonymous) metropolitan hospital
setting.What complaint do I (and you midwives) hear most about hospital
birth?? It was like being on a prosduction line. Attention to procedure and
policy means no respect for individuality.
Off on a tangent again.. So when will ACMI make it's members compulsorily
attend consumer groups meetings/suport groups toward their accreditation.
Marina
----Original Message Follows----
From: Kathleen Fahy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Midiwifery mailing list <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: RE: let's get off the round about
Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 13:24:17 +1000
Well said Carol.
I believe that ACMI should have consumer members if it is to be true to it's
philosophy of PARTNERSHIP. We could have a whole discussion about what a
PROFESSIONAL organisation is and I think we would find that PROFESSIONAL
models of care and PARTNERSHIP models of care are alternate choices. If we
see ourselves primarily as in partnership with women this means equality.
Professionalism is about elitism and about having the power/knowledge with
the consumer at a disadvantage.
Kathleen Fahy
-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Thorogood [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 10:56
To: Midiwifery mailing list
Subject: let's get off the round about
Dear all
I'm trying to be quiet but...
I know that there is nothing about consumers in the ACMI or ICM
Constitution. Therefore it'll take a bit of pushing and shoving to move it.
NZ did it, stirred up all and sundry, and grossly offended some but there
is nothing wrong with that surely? If those from the Long White Cloud can
think laterally why can't we? But, if the members want it (and we don't know
if they do, cause no-one has asked them), then please let's get on with the
negotiations. It will take some time and at this rate I'll be at the
crematorium and we will still be debating the rights and wrongs of it all,
not that those on the list seem to be arguing the wrongs much. I think this
issue has been circulating since the ACMI was formed. I know that Jill
Thompson and I spent ages talking about it in the early to mid eighties.
And we are still being wishy washy about it! It is either good for the
profession and we should get on with it or leave it be. This indecision is
paralysing us. Good people put up ideas, they get shelved and they get fed
up and go. The next generation have good ideas (often the same) and these
are shelved and they go as well and this goes on ad infinitum.
If the members want consumers in the ACMI, then we must tell the Executive
to please do what we ask ASAP. But it has to come from us. I think actually
that it is on the agenda in Hobart. What is more we should make sure that
our elected members represent the members' views. And there is only one way
to do that - tell 'em, cause they may not know.
Now I'm going back into hibernation!
Carol
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