Dear Jan and all who are interested in this thread It's amazing, isn't it! A world that's topsy-turvy. It's a society that says a woman has the right to determine if and when she has a child, and seems to be saying that there is a right to demand a caesarean birth for no medical reason, at the society's expense. Yet if that woman seeks to give birth under her own power, in her own home, with the appropriate professional midwife in attendance, that same society says no, you can't.
Jan is right in saying that midwifery is under the control of nursing. The Nurses Board has the statutory power of professional registration, and is answerable to the State Minister for Health, and the Parliament that we the people have elected, to carry out the law. Victorian legislation does not even require a midwife to be a member of the Board. I am a member because I applied, as a Registered Nurse in Division 1. But there is no clear statement in the Nurses Act 1993 about what a midwife can do. The Act protects the title 'midwife' - that's all. The Act also empowers the Nurses Board to "require the applicant [for registration] to provide evidence that the applicant is or will be covered by professional indemnity insurance that meets the minimum terms and conditions set out in the guidelines of the Board." S5(3)(d) The relevant guideline is the Code of Practice for midwives in Victoria, which states "4.6 Each midwife should ensure that there are satisfactory arrangements in place for their professional indemnity insurance." It's a dilemma which ever way you look at it. We must be strategic in our actions, and that's why I have taken the steps I have taken. There is a growing movement to demand social change as well as professional reform in this context globally. Those who subscribe to MIDIRS would have seen the excellent series 'Good Girls or Autonomous Professionals'. If you haven't read it, I would encourage you to. Stay strong. Joy Johnston -----Original Message----- From: Jan Robinson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, 8 July 2002 7:04 AM To: joy Subject: Re: Victorian Midwives Act Dear Liz, Joy and listers in Victoria Please do not give up your ideals and aspirations just because you are uninsured. There are plenty of doctors currently practising uninsured as are many small business people and organisations that have unique skills they believe is serving the public interest. They have found ways to divest themselves of assets as a temporary measure while working towards better insurance legislation. The current attempt to control independent midwives has nothing to do with 'medically controlled maternity services' although medicine will always have the biggest say in who does what while ever midwives continue to act as nurses within a Nurses Act. It is the Victorian NURSING profession that is controlling it's midwives with bullying tactics and has them running scared. Why should a midwife who has an authority to practice be charged for practising independently when the Act clearly states she has the right to? Independently Practising Midwives should not be concerned about the possibility of defending themselves for professional misconduct because of some misguided regulation. Now is an ideal time for those midwives who practise autonomously with women to get together and bring about a vote of no confidence in the Victorian Nurses Board for not trying to assist midwives providing a service for the public good. Such a move might start the Board's considerations to drop their restrictive regulations within the Act. Their discriminatory behavior towards midwives must be stopped. Legislation that singles out a sub-group and controls where and how they practise and/or prevents them earning an independent living IS restrictive. The Board could better protect the public by inviting all the midwives in private practice to contribute to the state insurance scheme when they register their intention to practice each year. Can't the Victorian Branch of ACMI get a bit proactive in all of this and take the Board to task to produce some more equitable legislation? I hope this ridiculous situation is soon sorted out or there will be lots of freebirthing within Victorian homes this winter. Yours in providing legitimate birth choices for women Jan Robinson ________________________________________________________________________ __ Jan Robinson Phone/fax: 011+ 61+ 2+ 9546 4350 Independent Midwife Practitioner e-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 8 Robin Crescent www: midwiferyeducation.com.au South Hurstville NSW 2221 National Coordinator, ASIM ________________________________________________________________________ __ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.373 / Virus Database: 208 - Release Date: 1/07/2002 -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
