Fw: childbirth

[Elizabeth McAlpine]

----- Original Message ----- From: Elizabeth McAlpine To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, July 20, 2001 6:08 PM Subject: childbirth Dear Sir/Madam,   As you no doubt are aware, midwives in Australia have had professional indemnity insurance withdrawn. Thus, the midwifery model of care for normal pregnancy and birth, recommended by the W.H.O., and supported by research evidence, is under threat.   Childbirth issues have enormous implications for women and children's health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, women's rights, hospital and medicine's lack of accountability, public scrutiny and audit and economics and cost to the taxpayers, to name a few.   How women birth has profound effects on society, and I refer you to www.birthworks.com/primal health and www.birthpsychology.com/ to peruse studies on the effects of interventionist practices.  For example, such things as aggression, violence and adolescent suicide.   Hot on the heels of the PI insurance issue for midwives in Australia, comes the 'Good Birth Guide', produced by The Sunday Times, July 15th, in conjunction with www.drfoster.co.uk, which informs women so they may demand change in childbirth practices. The work during that report may have acted as catalyst for the RCOG to help co-ordinate a national audit to investigate interventionist practices, with the aim being new guidelines on caesareans and the use of induction. Hopefully, Australia will do the same thing in the near future - but not without a push, I fear.   I have written to several members of parliament and senators asking them to intervene with the federal government to act in the interests of public health and human rights, and to follow the recommendations published in the senate report 'Rocking the Cradle', 1999.  In the letter, I suggested a consultant, the past regional officer for Women's and Children's Health, W.H.O. Dr. Marsden Wagner (author of 'Pursuing the Birth Machine', the Search for Appropriate Birth Technology, amongst others) to research all hospitals as drfoster did in the U.K., with the aim of publishing Australia's good birth guide. [EMAIL PROTECTED]   Also, a request to push for legislation to   1.   recognize midwives as the primary care giver for normal pregnancy and birth 2.   arrange PI insurance or no-fault clause like that in New Zealand to allow midwives to practice for the benefit of women and their babies. Also, for obstetricians to be enabled to support midwives when required in their practice, without fear of litigation, and to obviate some of the need for interventionist practices. 3.   require hospitals to accept admitting and visiting rights for midwives. 4.   provide funding for home birth, should women choose this option.   There is no competition between midwives and obstetricians.  Each has their field of expertise and is complementary to the other.   I write to you today in the spirit of co-operation, because not only is midwifery under threat, but obstetrics too.   Professional indemnity insurance forces many obstetricians out of business and general practioners with obstetric diplomas to cease that practice.  It is out of control, and causes some obstetricians to practice defensive obstetrics - surely not good for the soul.   The combined efforts of midwives and obstetricians would surely force some action from government on the insurance issue, and it could be done.  New Zealand has done it and could offer practical assistance on the matter.   Also, I'm convinced that many of your members are sympathetic to the desire of women to have a choice in childbirth; the aim of midwives to care for the approximately 80% of women with normal pregnancy and birth and to reduce the impact of essential medical intervention for the remaining 20%;  and the wish to practice fully as a CONSULTANT.   Let us join forces to bring about the changes in childbirth recommended by the senate report.  Most change is consumer driven, but this time, let us lead the way together to achieve the best for women, the best for children, and the best for our society.