Re: [ozmidwifery] hep C and homebirth

[Alesa Koziol]

Title: Bericht

Hi Lieve It is a shame that your colleagues feel so strongly against supporting this woman, but in a group practice I understand how sometimes there could be conflict over clients. However I wonder if they would be as negative about accepting someone with Hep B?? All the same precautions need to be considered for both the infant and midwives caring for the woman. On a another note, earlier this year we had a Hep C positive woman give birth to her premature infant. We therefore were handling her breastmilk for many weeks. This woman received Hep C from her mother at birth, so was infected through no fault of her own... does the route of infection really matter? I think not. Surely as clinical practitioners we are accountable for our care. This must be provided in a non judgmental manner to the woman despite where our personal prejudices might lie, afterall no one is perfect:) Cheers Alesa   Alesa Koziol Clinical Midwifery Educator Melbourne ----- Original Message ----- From: Lieve Huybrechts To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2005 12:26 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] hep C and homebirth Hoi friends,   Last week I send the question about hep C and homebirth. Since then I got a lot of information and I could decide that homebirth was not a problem with some precautions to protect ourselves. But I have a problem with my colleagues. We have a practice of three midwives and the other two refuse to help the mother, saying that they think the risc is to much to take. She was also a drugaddict, but clean now for several years. She had recent a partner with unsafe sexual behaviour (several partners). My colleagues say that she is responsible herself for what she got and take the consequences of it. I believe that everybody needs a second chance.   They say, considering our teamwork that I have to refuse her too. They are angry at me. I feel that refusing her is some discimination. How should you handle this in your practice?   warm greetings Lieve       Lieve Huybrechts vroedvrouw 0477/740853 www.geboorte-infocentrum.be -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.18/89 - Release Date: 2/09/2005