[ozmidwifery] ACMI referral guidelines
Dear All, We are still being beaten around the head about using the ACMI referral guidelines. Just today an obstetrician said 'well they (ACMI referral guidelines) are not RANZCOG approved' and he added that 'ACMI does not represent the vast majority of Midwives like RANZCOG represents all Obstetricians'. When the references were pointed out and the referral guidelines were based securely in best practice, it was like water on a ducks back. Can't see anything without the stamp of approval from RANZCOG nothing else exists. As you can tell from this the obstetricians want to usereferral guidelines based on their interpretationand not on a Midwifery best practice model of care. You would think it should be the same for Midwives and obstetricians. With a mindset like this obstetricians want complete control and veto and they hide this mindset behind the facade of 'safety'. Another issue is that they want a definition of 'low risk'. I just want to scream! Anne ClarkeBirth Centre, Brisbane
Re: [ozmidwifery] ACMI referral guidelines
I'm so sorry, Anne. I deeply sympathise with you and I wish I could do something to help. I think it's time thatthose of us with actual real evidence went on the offensive and stopped allowing Obs to dictate the terms of this discourse. They need to be asked to demonstrate their fitness to practice according to evidence based guidelines not that mulch that they fluff up for the media. Sending you strength and support from Melbourne. For the record, in ob terms, isn't a "low risk" woman one who isn't pregnant? ; ) Janet - Original Message - From: Anne Clarke To: OZMIDWIFERY Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 10:05 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] ACMI referral guidelines Dear All, We are still being beaten around the head about using the ACMI referral guidelines. Just today an obstetrician said 'well they (ACMI referral guidelines) are not RANZCOG approved' and he added that 'ACMI does not represent the vast majority of Midwives like RANZCOG represents all Obstetricians'. When the references were pointed out and the referral guidelines were based securely in best practice, it was like water on a ducks back. Can't see anything without the stamp of approval from RANZCOG nothing else exists. As you can tell from this the obstetricians want to usereferral guidelines based on their interpretationand not on a Midwifery best practice model of care. You would think it should be the same for Midwives and obstetricians. With a mindset like this obstetricians want complete control and veto and they hide this mindset behind the facade of 'safety'. Another issue is that they want a definition of 'low risk'. I just want to scream! Anne ClarkeBirth Centre, Brisbane
Re: [ozmidwifery] ACMI referral guidelines
I personally detest the very phrase's "low risk"
and "high risk". I much prefer health pregnancy a pregnancy with
complications. After all I am "at risk" when I cross the road as I live
under a flight path my very presence in my home has me "at risk", this is life,
nothing is guaranteed. I dont see anyone jumping up down to save me from
those very real risks. I guess there is not the motivation of money power
in it. I would rather not be labelled as anything except "women centred". Just
my 2c.
Cheers
Philippa ScottDoulaBirth BuddiesSupporting Women ~ Creating
LifePresident - Friends of the Birth Centre Townsville
- Original Message -
From:
Janet
Fraser
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 10:26
PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] ACMI referral
guidelines
I'm so sorry, Anne. I deeply
sympathise with you and I wish I could do something to help.
I think it's time
thatthose of us with actual real evidence went on the offensive and
stopped allowing Obs to dictate the terms of this discourse. They need to be
asked to demonstrate their fitness to practice according to evidence based
guidelines not that mulch that they fluff up for the media.
Sending you strength and
support from Melbourne. For the record, in ob terms, isn't a "low risk" woman
one who isn't pregnant? ; )
Janet
- Original Message -
From:
Anne
Clarke
To: OZMIDWIFERY
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 10:05
PM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] ACMI referral
guidelines
Dear All,
We are still being beaten around the head about
using the ACMI referral guidelines.
Just today an obstetrician said 'well they
(ACMI referral guidelines) are not RANZCOG approved' and he added that 'ACMI
does not represent the vast majority of Midwives like RANZCOG represents all
Obstetricians'.
When the references were pointed out and the
referral guidelines were based securely in best practice, it was like water
on a ducks back. Can't see anything without the stamp of approval from
RANZCOG nothing else exists.
As you can tell from this the obstetricians
want to usereferral guidelines based on their interpretationand
not on a Midwifery best practice model of care. You would think it should be
the same for Midwives and obstetricians. With a mindset like this
obstetricians want complete control and veto and they hide this mindset
behind the facade of 'safety'.
Another issue is that they want a definition of
'low risk'.
I just want to scream!
Anne ClarkeBirth Centre,
Brisbane
Re: [ozmidwifery] ACMI referral guidelines
I wanted to put in some thoughts about these
matters even though I don't understand the specificsof your system.
We have probably gone through many of the same things here in Canada. One
thing that we are changing in our approach to dealing with those who oppose us
is "dramatic language". It's not accurate to say you are "being beaten
about the head". I know it's a turn of phrase only but there is power in
language. It actually takes rigour to say "We have received 3 letters
stating." rather than saying things like "raked over the coals, having
our heads in a noose, being burned at the stake, etc." All of those things
don't accurately describe what we are dealing with today and to the degree that
we indulge in the drama, we lose power.
Secondly, backlash and resistance are normal when
things are on the move. They are actually good signs of progress.
The progress will be seen in surprising and unexpected places. When you
have a whole group of women focused on improving maternity care, the
improvements may not come in the place you are putting energy but they will come
and you can be proud that your contribution made a difference.
I find it interesting that the obstetricians are
not accepting your evidence. That means they are reading it, at
least. Have you ever "not accepted" something and then come to see
that you can accept it later? I sure have I remember the first time I
saw someone breastfeeding an 8 month old. I was a teenager and I was
completely disgusted that someone would have a child that size on their
breast. Years later, there I was with my 4 y.o. still sucking
away. Just shows that it's possible to completely transform a point
of view.
So, keep up your stand for the normalcy of birth
and the possibility of Australia being a world leader in bringing dignity and
health back to the birthing room. You may never get credit for it but
you'll have huge satisfaction that you were part of a movement in 2005 that made
a difference for your daughter and grand daughters.
Gloria in Canada
- Original Message -
From:
Janet
Fraser
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 5:26
AM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] ACMI referral
guidelines
I'm so sorry, Anne. I deeply
sympathise with you and I wish I could do something to help.
I think it's time
thatthose of us with actual real evidence went on the offensive and
stopped allowing Obs to dictate the terms of this discourse. They need to be
asked to demonstrate their fitness to practice according to evidence based
guidelines not that mulch that they fluff up for the media.
Sending you strength and
support from Melbourne. For the record, in ob terms, isn't a "low risk" woman
one who isn't pregnant? ; )
Janet
- Original Message -
From:
Anne
Clarke
To: OZMIDWIFERY
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 10:05
PM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] ACMI referral
guidelines
Dear All,
We are still being beaten around the head about
using the ACMI referral guidelines.
Just today an obstetrician said 'well they
(ACMI referral guidelines) are not RANZCOG approved' and he added that 'ACMI
does not represent the vast majority of Midwives like RANZCOG represents all
Obstetricians'.
When the references were pointed out and the
referral guidelines were based securely in best practice, it was like water
on a ducks back. Can't see anything without the stamp of approval from
RANZCOG nothing else exists.
As you can tell from this the obstetricians
want to usereferral guidelines based on their interpretationand
not on a Midwifery best practice model of care. You would think it should be
the same for Midwives and obstetricians. With a mindset like this
obstetricians want complete control and veto and they hide this mindset
behind the facade of 'safety'.
Another issue is that they want a definition of
'low risk'.
I just want to scream!
Anne ClarkeBirth Centre,
Brisbane
Re: [ozmidwifery] ACMI referral guidelines
Anne, Scream away, good for releasing tension ! Not true that RANZCOG represents the views of all OBs. I spoke to 3 this week who stated their college does not express their views at all. However they felt that they possibly not probably (semantics) represented the views of the majority. Defintion of low risk is fairly standard anywhere isn't it? Look at any birth centres critieria. Let's not reinvent that wheel ! There is no evidence to say midwife led care is unsafe, in fact there is plenty of data to prove otherwise, the onus is on the college to prove otherwise. It isn't up to ACMI to prove they are safe, it is for RANZCOG to prove they aren't ! Why are RANZCOG the 'boss of ACMI anyway ? Sounds like school yard games doesn't it ? Establish the pecking order, I'm the boss of you ! BM Anne Clarke [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear All, We are still being beaten around the head about using the ACMI referral guidelines. Just today an obstetrician said 'well they (ACMI referral guidelines) are not RANZCOG approved' and he added that 'ACMI does not represent the vast majority of Midwives like RANZCOG represents all Obstetricians'. When the references were pointed out and the referral guidelines were based securely in best practice, it was like water on a ducks back. Can't see anything without the stamp of approval from RANZCOG nothing else exists. As you can tell from this the obstetricians want to use referral guidelines based on their interpretation and not on a Midwifery best practice model of care. You would think it should be the same for Midwives and obstetricians. With a mindset like this obstetricians want complete control and veto and they hide this mindset behind the facade of 'safety'. Another issue is that they want a definition of 'low risk'. I just want to scream! Anne Clarke Birth Centre, Brisbane -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] ACMI referral guidelines
Give them back the guidelines and tell them low risk is spelt out in detail if they choose to read the document. Sonja - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2005 5:38 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] ACMI referral guidelines Anne, Scream away, good for releasing tension ! Not true that RANZCOG represents the views of all OBs. I spoke to 3 this week who stated their college does not express their views at all. However they felt that they possibly not probably (semantics) represented the views of the majority. Defintion of low risk is fairly standard anywhere isn't it? Look at any birth centres critieria. Let's not reinvent that wheel ! There is no evidence to say midwife led care is unsafe, in fact there is plenty of data to prove otherwise, the onus is on the college to prove otherwise. It isn't up to ACMI to prove they are safe, it is for RANZCOG to prove they aren't ! Why are RANZCOG the 'boss of ACMI anyway ? Sounds like school yard games doesn't it ? Establish the pecking order, I'm the boss of you ! BM Anne Clarke [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear All, We are still being beaten around the head about using the ACMI referral guidelines. Just today an obstetrician said 'well they (ACMI referral guidelines) are not RANZCOG approved' and he added that 'ACMI does not represent the vast majority of Midwives like RANZCOG represents all Obstetricians'. When the references were pointed out and the referral guidelines were based securely in best practice, it was like water on a ducks back. Can't see anything without the stamp of approval from RANZCOG nothing else exists. As you can tell from this the obstetricians want to use referral guidelines based on their interpretation and not on a Midwifery best practice model of care. You would think it should be the same for Midwives and obstetricians. With a mindset like this obstetricians want complete control and veto and they hide this mindset behind the facade of 'safety'. Another issue is that they want a definition of 'low risk'. I just want to scream! Anne Clarke Birth Centre, Brisbane -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
