Midwifery Insurance

[Roslyn Donnellan - Fernandez]

Dear All,   Participated in three media interviews yesterday in Adelaide on the midwifery insurance issue. ABC TV interviewed myself, Sandra Kanck (Democrats), and Megan Resch (birthing woman). It was run last night on 7 pm news. (Emphasis on the removal of women's birthing options, unreasonable notification timeframe by Guild Insurance, marginalization of the midwifery profession & Sandra calling on the state government to cap malpractice payouts & provide suitable arrangements for midwives as have been organized & subsidized for rural & regional medicos practising obstetrics in this state - yes, they get state government subsidization.)   The Advertiser (Adelaide paper) also conducted interviews & photographed Megan & her children to run a human interest story on the issue over the next couple of days. (Megan birthed her first child in hospital with an obstetrician in attendance,  the second at home through water with myself, and is pregnant & planning to birth her third babe at home later this year)   The Age have also commenced work on the "diary type" serial story they plan to run on one of the family's I am birthing with, due in the next couple of weeks, with baby number four. We are booked into one of the Birthing Centres where I currently have practising rights, (contingent of course on the ability to insure). Dad is Maori & first two births were with midwife led care in New Zealand. Number three with me at birth centre in Adelaide & planning this course again. This family have also lived in the United States and are very informed with regard to birthing practices & costs there ! Hopefully we can raise many issues that relate to care options for Australian women, in addition to that of midwifery insurance, from their experiences. Have so far had two meetings with the reporter & her & the photographer have attended recent 39 week antenatal check with family.   I will also forward an overview of "no fault liability" provided by Karen Guilliland (NZCOM) for the lists information.   Regards Roz Donnellan - Fernandez Self Employed Community Midwife (Adelaide, South Australia)