Dear Sally and All A lovely considered response.
I have had some exposure to chronic drug users (whilst I was an adviser to a politician, we were trying to set up a heroin trial!!). What stands out in relation to drug use is it pretty much boils down to risk taking behaviour (more often young males) or self medication. I agree once you look behind the veneer there is nearly always a story of tragedy/despair. Most on this list support midwifery as a holistic approach and see the benefits of caring for the woman in her surroundings encompassing all she is. This example is yet another reason why we need one to one midwifery for ALL. These women at risk fall through the cracks in our fragmented system, they don't trust health professionals (well especially when they don't get to know one). Instead of condemning the individual, condemn the Government and system that fails these people. Did you see 4 Corners on Monday night? I attach a piece of the transcript that demonstrates what sort of diabolical money the Fed Gov is spending on lucrative private medical practices, rather than quality public care. Don't get angry at victims of a society that has such a widening gap between rich and poor, vote the Howard Gov out!! Sorry to say this, but I have lost the plot this week with the insane waste of money of the Howard Gov (it literally makes me ill) Justine Bit of the transcript (discussing how the Medicare safety net will pick up Private Obs fees and just how much it will be) TICKY FULLERTON: But a leaked audit from within the HIC suggests much more up-to-date numbers were available to the minister. It showed a $1.4 million blow-out of the scheme in Victoria in the month of June alone. What is more, Four Corners has been told by a doctor that almost all obstetricians in inner-city Melbourne are cost-shifting. If the average obstetrician is charging about $2,000 out-of-pocket expenses, that works out over the last six months at a cost of between $6 million and $8 million - just for 50 doctors. TONY ABBOTT: Mm-hm. Well, if you tell me, but the fact is that... TICKY FULLERTON: Well, you're the Health Minister. Shouldn't you know? My view is, whilst I don't condone illicit drug use, or in fact ANY persisitant drug use, during pregnancy, surely we should be looking at why these women succumb in the first place. Many women have been taking drugs for a long time, many were sexually or physically abused as children, drugs were the way out of the physical and emotional pain. Many women who take drugs become pregnant through abuse and rape, and don't have the means to procure legal abortion, thus creating a vicious circle. I have worked with many women with a drug dependency, most of them have the strength to turn their lives around because of the baby they are carrying. There will always be those who, apparently, don't care.........but do we really know why they don't care. Do we ever find out? So before you all start tub thumping about locking up or even charging drug dependent women, take a long hard look at what they have probably gone through to be in the situation in the first place. Sally -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
