Dear Kathleen and all
Midwives in Victoria have, since 1996, our excellent Code of Practice. The
ICM Definition of a Midwife is its central statement, and everything else is
consistent with the Definition.
There are a couple of statements in the Code that are relevant to your
question:
<4.2 midwives are responsible and accountable for their own practice. Each
midwife acts within the sphere of midwifery practice and is expected to
maintain the competence necessary for contemporary practice.
The midwife employed by a healthcare facility must practise within the
policies and procedures of that facility. Where a midwife is afforded
clinical responsibilities by a healthcare facility through an appointment
mechanism there must be a documented agreement between the midwife and the
facility. However, it should be noted that practising within a guideline or
policy of an employer, any organisation or professional group does not
relieve the midwife of responsibility for personal acts.>
I expect some will see the Code as restrictive. However there is a new
paragraph that has been added recently (the 1999 review), which I really
like.
<5. Professional responsibilities: Each midwife has a professional
responsibility to identify policies, procedures or practises that are
restrictive and/or may be detrimental to the standard of midwifery practice
and woman-centred care. In identifying these issues, midwives must act to
ensure that they are brought to the attention of the relevant authority.>
I read this as covering all those issues we talk about on this list, and
much more. Midwives in every Victorian hospital should be carefully
reviewing policies and procedures and guidelines from a midwifery
perspective, and following through with deputations to the hospital
management. And I know it's easy for me to say what those in the acute
system should be doing - and I don't want to see midwives being victimised
because they stick their necks out. But the Code says that 'each midwife
has a professional responsibility ...' We all need to support each other in
this. We in Victoria have a long way to go before we can claim that
midwives in mainstream maternity care are practising according to the Code.
all the best
Joy Johnston
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Kathleen Fahy
Sent: Thursday, 26 August 1999 12:18
To: Ozmidwifery
Cc: Cath Rogers-Clark
Subject: Why can't we practise as midwives in hospitals?
This question may seem naive but I really can't get a clear answer?
What policy or legislation requires hospital midwives to follow medical
protocols? For example: where do midwives stand if they don't do regular
VEs, avoids using oxytocins or keep descriptive notes rather than use a
partogram?
I can find no legislation in Qld (which doesn't mean it doesn't exist but it
is not in the nursing act and I'm told it is not in the health services
act).
A midwifery administrator tells me that the only way in which midwives are
required to follow medical protocols is that if they don't they will not be
covered by the hospital's vicarious liability insurance.
Does anyone know anymore?
Dr. Kathleen Fahy
Associate Professor
Midwifery Co-ordinator
University Southern Queensland
07 46312377
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
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.
