NEWS RELEASE
Wednesday 20 January 2010
Contact: Justine Caines 0408210273
When one considers the AMA is the doctors union, then the raft of shroud waving media regarding homebirth, is totally understandable. Current President, Andrew Pesce is a practicing obstetrician, his livelihood hinges on women being scared about birth, inferring surgery is safer than normal birth.” said Justine Caines mother of seven and Secretary of Homebirth Australia
“The AMA has been busy reporting increased death rates from homebirths in South Australia. On close examination, over 16 years only 2.5 deaths per 1000 actually occurred at births taking place at home. (When congenital abnormality was excluded-a normal research criteria). The results then demonstrate homebirth as 328% safer than hospital birth,” said Ms Caines
Women from across Victoria will gather today in an effort to expose the AMA’s insidious scare campaign and to issue a direct challenge to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
“Kevin Rudd made some grand statements regarding health reform, including that the buck stopped with him” said Ms Caines
“Many don’t realise that maternity care is the largest volume area of health and it is a broken mess. It was the first area to be examined under the reform process and yet reform looks very unlikely”, said Ms Caines.
“Health Minister, Nicola Roxon seems unable to progress any reform without having the OK from the AMA’s Andrew Pesce.” said Ms Caines
“Last November 400 gathered outside Kevin Rudd’s Brisbane office, demanding maternity reform, particularly access and funding to midwifery care, this was after an unprecedented number (more than 3000) rallied in Canberra in September. Instead of listening to women, Kevin Rudd sanctioned an underhanded amendment that will give Doctors even more control of midwifery practice and women’s choices,” said Ms Caines
“Yesterday Jeffrey Braithwaite reported that health consumers in Australia and the U.S
have only a one in two chance of receiving recommended care, a 1:10 likelihood of something going wrong in hospital and a 1:50 possibility of a health system-induced death or major disability. PM Rudd must take a hard line and hold the medical profession to account. Certainly Australian women will hold the PM to account if he does not act,” said Ms Caines
Women and babies will gather outside AMA’s Victoria office from 10.45am: 293 Royal Parade PARKVILLE (Melways 29 G12)
