Susan Cudlipp wrote:
Choice is an interesting concept: if we truly support choice then
surely even 'bad' choices should be respected?
Yeah see this is where a persons rights as a medical consumer gets
tricky. How do we define 'bad' choices whilst being
culturally/theologically/spiritually/ etc sensitive? Look I think that
the woman who wanted to be induced before the 6/6/06 has just seen too
many Exorcist movies, but who are we to deny her the right to hold a
totally different world view? Yes we could argue that her choices can
potentially cause harm to herself & her baby, we can attempt to 'inform'
her of her rights and responsibilities as we see them, but at the end of
the day if she is willing to make that decision then it is hers to make.
If we are going to be 'real' about supporting womens rights to choose,
then we also have to be real about where the responsibility ultimately
lies, & until this is sorted in a cultural, political & legal sense, its
going to keep going around in these same circles.
The bottom line is that we are arguing about the choices human beings
have in our culture around birthing, when we cant even choose the way we
die, that also is a choice that is proscribed (by law even). In the
situation of dying, one has to consider that you can do it yourself
quietly (or not) at home (ie 'commit' suicide - notice the allusion to a
criminal activity in that statement), but you cant expect the help of
the medical establishment to do so (ie euthanasia). That is one very
obvious 'boundary' to what medical science can 'ethically' provide.
Maybe if more women understood that the same boundaries exist in the
birthing scene, we may see some changes take place! Because of the fear
of litigation (ie, where the ultimate responsibility lies), you cannot
expect the medical establishment to sanction or support any behaviour
that it defines as 'life-threatening'. The fact that the information the
establishments use to create those definitions is not always evidence
based just adds to the frustration!
With all due respect to those who work in hospitals, please can we all
just admit that as soon as you become a 'patient', your choices (and
therefore your responsibilities) are potentially (depending on what you
want) over-ridden by hospital policy (ie, there are boundaries to the
support you can expect)? We can argue that 'it is her body, her baby',
but if she cant (is not allowed or supported to) make choices that the
institution sees as inherently 'dangerous' (by thier definition) to
herself or her baby, then its all just bullshit.
Call me naive (go on, I dont mind), but -
What we want as consumers is to be able to access medical help *on our
terms*.
What we want as midwives is to know we are working with people (women
mostly but not only women) that are willing & able to take
responsibility for their choices & decisions.
--
Jennifairy Gillett RM
Midwife in Private Practice
Women’s Health Teaching Associate
ITShare volunteer – Santos Project Co-ordinator
ITShare SA Inc - http://itshare.org.au/
ITShare SA provides computer systems to individuals & groups, created
from donated hardware and opensource software
--
This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics.
Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
