Dear Supporter of choice in childbirth
Last chance to prevent medical control of women’s choice and midwifery practice
Recently Greens Senator Rachel Siewert was successful in passing the Medicare related legislation with the wicked amendment (requiring midwives to have a formal collaboration agreement with an individual Dr in order for a midwife to seek registration and practice privately, thus giving the Dr the ability to control women's choice and midwifery practice) to a Senate Committee. YES ANOTHER COMMITTEE, but an important to chance to show the women of the Australian Labor Party that have sold women's rights down the river that we are NOT GOING TO GIVE UP
Please see below all the relevant info, but please NOTE that submissions close DECEMBER 11 - Not long. The Committee prefers to receive submissions electronically as an attached document – email: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au – otherwise by fax (02) 6277 5829
We don't need reams in your submission, just simple information, especially personal stories:
Important facts to include if you can:
How you as a woman and consumer or as a homebirth/continuity midwife was treated when interacting with obstetrics or the 'system'
Your stories as a consumer or midwife when interacting with the system. This may have nothing to do with homebirth. It may be a hospital planned birth (and the reason you then chose homebirth!!). What we are wanting to demonstrate is that obstetrics and midwifery are so vastly different and there is no way obstetrics can 'oversee' midwifery.
It is important to remind the Senators of the time taken by obstetricians (particularly in labour) as opposed to the care received by a continuity midwife. The skill accrued by watching and waiting for women in labour. The clinical and psycho social safety of the relationship formed. The fact that obstetricians see 200-300 women per year and a full time midwife 40. The vast difference in the models of care.
Women's rights of informed consent and right of refusal.
Where have the reproductive rights of women gone? What about the established legal concepts of right of refusal/informed consent???
Sure I have the right, but if I exercise it I will be denied a Registered Midwife. In the U.K, Canada and New Zealand women have the right to make decisions (as long as they are informed and of sound mind) and a midwife is still able to attend a woman (on the basis of duty of care).
See all relevant info below and remember we broke a record last time with 2507 submissions. PASS this on, get your partner to write as well and anyone else and let's smash this record by 11 DECEMBER.
Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill 2009
and two related Bills
On 23 November 2009, the Senate again referred the Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill 2009 and two related Bills, together with the Government's proposed collaborative arrangements amendments, to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 1 February 2010. The Committee has been asked to consider the impact of the proposed amendments in a number of areas. The full terms of reference are attached.
The Bills and amendments circulated may be accessed at the following links, and to further assist you the Government amendments are also attached.
Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill 2009 <http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbillhome%2Fr4151%22>
Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Bill 2009 <http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbillhome%2Fr4153%22>
Midwife Professional Indemnity (Run-off Cover Support Payment) Bill 2009 <http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fbillhome%2Fr4152%22>
http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%...
The Committee invites you to provide a written submission addressing the terms of reference, in particular the proposed Government amendments on collaborative arrangements. Submissions should be lodged by 11 December 2009. The Committee prefers to receive submissions electronically as an attached document – email: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au – otherwise by fax (02 6277 5829).
The same privilege provisions that applied to your previous submission are applicable. Information relating to Senate Committee inquiries, including notes to assist in the preparation of submissions for a Committee, can be located on the Internet at http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/wit_sub/index.htm <http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/wit_sub/index.htm>
