Yesterday I attended a forum to discuss Bill B. We only found out about it at the last minute through the maternity coalition, who also found out about it very late. Stake holders were invited to come along and discuss the bill. We rang on behalf of the South Australian Independent midwives and I contacted all the consumer groups and they all rang and got invited too.
Before I continue with the story, WHERE THE FUCK WERE THE COLLEGE OF MIDWIVES?
National had no representation. I contacted the SA branch and they were issued an invite however the Lovely midwife was at a birth so there was nobody there.
The Nurses board, ANF the Universities and every other group were represented. We enquired why the college weren’t issued an original invitation and it was told it was because they didn’t put in a written submission after Bill A. WTF?
John Hill opened the proceedings and stayed only for a few questions from the floor. I managed to ask one and he made it pretty clear that his position was no insurance no registering and he really didn’t care.
A pretty pertinant consumer question was raised on Subdivision 6 General 148 Directing or inciting unprofessional conduct or professional misconduct.
(1) A person must not direct or incite a registered health practitioner to do anything, in the course of the practitioner’s practice of the health profession, that amounts to unprofessional conduct or professional misconduct.
Maximum penalty:
(a) in the case of an individual—$30,000, or
(b) in the case of a body corporate—$60,000.
There was lots of shuffling of papers and they skimmed over it. They did however revisit this and say that it wasn’t the intention of the bill to charge women who birthed at home this however they would look more carefully at it. Let’s hope they do.
We had numerous tries at talking about the issue, we sounded like we knew our stuff. BECAUSE WE DID. However they were embarrassed and awkward.
The AMA (arrogant arse , you could tell him a mile away) grabbed the microphone to say of course everyone needs insurance and you can’t work without it. Twat doesn’t he realise we do this every day?
The next point we clustered and talked about, it was taken up by Julie Garrett and followed up by me asking how did they feel with their emphasis on being in the public interest that not allowing highly skilled midwives to practice wasn’t in the public interest and a Waiver should be sought until an available insurance was presented.
We used this:
Preliminary section 4
A. To provide for the protection of the public by ensuring that only health practitioners who are suitably trained and qualified to practice in a competent and ethical manner are registered.
E. To facilitate access to services provided by health practitioners in accordance with public interest.
Kristen Cheesman also attended and wrote these comments as part of her reporting to the MC and midwifery lists
Mandatory reporting will be expected not only for unsafe practice but also for departures from accepted professional standards where there is a substantive risk of harm. My concern is that this would be used to vilify midwives for practices such as supporting women with breech, twins, post dates etc. There is no provision for quality of care or evidence based practice under the current wording of the legislation although the panel agreed that they would address the wording to reflect that quality of care and evidence based practice may not always fit the model of accepted professional standards.
The systems in place for processing complaints are complicated and with no prescriptive procedures described. Complaints may be dealt with locally or nationally. NSW has its own processes in place which means they will not be covered by the new legislation for processing complaints. The net result of this is that midwives who have complaints made about them will have no clear means of defending themselves as the complaint may be handballed to different departments and boards under the legislation. Apparently they’re making a flowchart to describe the process more clearly.
Hannah Dahlen (spokes person for the ACM) has had the marvellous idea of a postcard campaign. Hurrah – We are saved!
- Do you
Homebirth? Share this post with your friends - Recommend on Facebook
- Buzz it up
- Share with Stumblers
- Tweet about it
Related posts:
Hooray! Postcards! If we glue them all together we can build an island and float away offshore where midwifery isn't illegal and the problem will be solved!
*heads desk*
Trish.
Ahhh Is that the best that the ACMI can come up with postcard campaign, no wonder this crap is being dished up to midwives
Actually the best they can come up with is, and I quote…"IPM's anger about supposedly being forgotten or sold out by the college is misguided and misdirected." Oh, and let's not forget this cracker…"you have to sit back and trust the process".
Yep, we're fucked. If we allow these clowns to keep representing us, (which is pretty questionable anyway, given what they've done for independents so far), then we don't stand a hope in hell.
The mandatory reporting stuff is a total nightmare…and who sets the model of accepted professional standards ffs? A body of our peers? The AMA? I could just cry. That kind of crap will 'risk out' most women choosing to birth at home because they KNOW they won't get a fair go in the hospital.
Thanks for what you've posted here, it's helping me and friends to approach this from a head space more educated on the politics of this.
It's really not enough to sign petitions and postcards and attend rallies and think we are being productive, hey?
Imagine if instead of (or as well as) all that each person wrote a sensible letter, or scheduled a sensible meeting with an appropriate person…
Any other ideas for what might actually help?
Hi Rhoda,
I think that we are all doing everything we can. I am a little short on ideas because I dont think anything will help. Lobbying local members is the best. If you go as an individual your local member has to take it up. It's their job and their remit.
I think demanding a waiver in the face of an unsafe bill is the best way to go.
Thanks for everything you are doing.
Hi,Im currently on the central coast NSW, just returned from out west,practising as a hospital midwife.Thanks for the info,ive had no luck with justines bill sites,so this has fueled my knowledge so I can assist.My suggestion is we need to unite as one voice, one body, midwives, women,& the men, have been seperated for too long.How to do this??? Step by step in every state.talk again Nicole
Thanks for the reply Lisa,
I didn't realise you were a midwife in SA. Doesn't this mean you personally won't be affected? I read that the SA state governement insures midwives. Was it actually too good to be true?
Of course I don't mean that in the sense that if it doesn't affect you personally you shouldn't be concerned! Just looking for a little insight into how SA has it sorted.
SA state government doesn't insure midwives. They have a state homebirth policy which means that the group practice has a limited homebirth service. The restrictions many so if you get in you'd be lucky and then yo are not guaranteed either your midwife or the birth you want. Independent midwives in SA are the same as independent midwives everywhere else in Australia.
Ahhh, nang.
There's really not much else to say is there..
NNAANG.
Hello friends
Do not miss your chance to get a free iPhone 4G. Visit http://bit.ly/d9QOON
Bonjour, Guten Tag, Merhaba, Annyeong… Hej
!
'Maga No Need Pay' is the latest pop song to make its way around West African radio waves, and the message behind it is clear: just say "no" to cyber-crime. Nigeria, is a hotbed of "419" advanced fee scams, which typically involve scammers disguised as princes, etc. Music can certainly exert a powerful influence over society…!
WWW:
switched.com/2010/02/05/nigerian-stars-fight-419-scams-with-pop-music/
…didn't find it on http://www.homebirth.net.au
Sorry, if choose this incorrectly! Move it, please!