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Caasana's comments:
on Midwifery Controversy
It will be resolved when birthing choices are laid in the hands of the women giving birth. If both sides believe they are doing what is best, then it is only left to the choice of women which one they agree with. That is the whole point of Andaluz fighting to cease the harrassment by OHSU so they may continue to do what they are legally allowed to do without unwarranted road blocks and birthing mothers continue to have the option to go to them should they decide that is what is best for them. Choice is the solution and it is what women all over the US fight for on a daily basis.
posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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on Midwifery Controversy
They didn't have a problem handing over records for legitimate issues, but the information not being given is that the requests for records weren't even complete. They were requesting information on midwives and patients they didn't even have the names for. That's what happens when baseless complaints are made. They throw out accusations of problems without even having complete information on the issue. It was, in fact, a fishing expedition and was meant to be a hassle. Thus that is why it is called harrassment and that is why OHLA immediately withdrew their investigations after their records requests were denied. They had nothing to back it up, no ground to force Andaluz to present records.
http://geoffrie.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/andaluz-waterbirth-center-files-class-action-lawsuit-against-ohsu-ohla/
"In April and May 2010, the OHLA sent out five subpoenas to midwives from Andaluz Waterbirth Center demanding medical records to investigate “complaints”, though it was unclear that legitimate complaints were actually made, as OHLA didn’t even know the name of some of the birthing mothers or other details, such as who the midwife was (note that the birthing mothers were angry about complaints being filed about them against their midwives). Andaluz lawyer, Roy Haber, notified OHLA that the birthing files would not be provided because the OHLA did not have any “cause” to believe that the complaints had any merit. After receiving the letter refusing the records, the OHLA withdrew all of the investigations. A sixth case against an Andaluz midwife was also dropped after Haber demanded a list of witnesses."
posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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on Midwifery Controversy
Thank you for being specific! Far, far too often when discussing midwifery care is there not a distinction made between a complicated pregnancy and a high risk pregnancy. Simply being obese labels a woman as high risk and not enough people understand what it means to have risk factors as opposed to having actual complications. While I appreciate your thoughtful comment, don't forget that what is considered a complication and what is considered a variation of normal is still up for debate. Breech and twins being the best examples in this case. Breech babies are frequently born with the skilled hands of midwives and do not see the resulting complications that come from attempted vaginal delivers by OBs who are no longer trained to perform breech delivery. Also, it is not made clear how many of those tragic complications arise because of interventive practices in hospitals. How does one distinguish between a complication that could not have been avoided and one that was caused by trying to avoid it? This is part of why more women are not even bothering with hospitals anymore.
posted 2 years, 10 months ago
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