Midwifery

[misspotsitt.livejournal.com]

This follow on from a discussion I was having yesterday on the differences between the American and UK health care systems.

I remember about a year or so ago I was told that Midwifery was illegal or at least not a generally accepted practice in America. I have also noticed that midwifery is listed as an interest on a lot of the alternative or holistic medicine communities.

It this true? It seems a bit weird if it is. We've always had midwives in the UK, my mother's a trained midwife (though she doesn't work as one, she's a renal specialist medical nurse), how do babies get delivered if it's illegal?

X posted-sorry!

Comments

[niankhsekhmet.livejournal.com]

Midwifery is legal here in the US, however, they cannot prescribe, etc. Its the usual bit of legalese denial that herbalists and other alternative providers have to do in order to make the medical community feel unthreatened. Herbalism, beleive it or not is illegal - in most states. That means even if you recommend chicken soup to a sick friend, by technicality, you are breaking the law, ie. practicing medicine without a license. That is why there is legislation for freedom of healthcare choice in the US. It has passed I know in Minnesota and in California, and is we are now trying to push it through in Iowa. The opponents are of course the pharmaceutical cartels, the AMA the insurance conglomerates and the legislators that are in the respective pockets of any or all of the above.

Midwives and Doulas do get support even through the hospital communities here, and many women oft for this choice.

[misspotsitt.livejournal.com]

I think the big difference is that in the UK midwives are just like any other medical staff wheras in America they seem to be viewed as slightly 'alternative'. Midwives can't prescribe here, like other nurses, but because they are part of the medical system that doesn't really matter, you can grab a Dr to do it if you need to.

Childbirth has changed, people tend to have children in hospital than at home, which was the norm even when I was born. Also more and more women opt for ceasarians even though there may be no medical need for it.

I didn't realise that herbalism was was illegal in America. I actuall don't really know it's status in the UK and have been trying to find out. The NIHM have been campaigning to have self regulatory status and have registered herbalists who have the same obligations to their patients as conventional Drs. I don't think it's a case of it being illegal, more that anybody can practice, and there are no rules about qualifications, and that's what they want to change. It also means that if a herbalist is guilty of malpractice or is practicing under false pretences they can be 'unregistered' similar to a Dr being struck off. This ultimately will improve the quality of service for everyone, though it may make it more expensive as currently underqualified herbalists have to retrain which is very expensive (the average degree course in herbal medicine costs £12,000).

[niankhsekhmet.livejournal.com]

I the UK, from what I understand, Medical Herbalists can be accredited, isn't that so? I am all for clinical hours, tests and all that. I think its important, because I cannot tell you how many idiots I have run into who are dabbling in this but who don't bother to study. Here herbal programs cost about what you say, but there is no governing body outside of the AHG - and professional recognition with that board, does not really buy you anything. At least with a UK MH degree, they will leave you alone here.

[misspotsitt.livejournal.com]

Yeah I think you can be accreditied. The course I have seriously thought about doing is a distance course, but with a lot of residential elements and a heavy emphasis on putting in clinical hours with college approved practitioners. It can take between 4 and 10 years depending on how you choose to structure it, and you pay for each 3rd before you take it. It is run by the college that used to be the training school for the NIMH but is now independent. I just can't afford it right now.

[aboxofeyes.livejournal.com]

I know there is a midwife's office just down the street from my apartment, so it's not illegal per se, at least not in Illinois. I do remember one lawsuit since I've lived here were a midwife was sued by the state because a child died just after birth. If I'm remembering correctly, the family was on the midwife's side, said she'd done everything that could have been done, but the state still went after her. That was a number of years back. I can't remember the details, but I could dig them up if you like.

Unfortunately just because midwifery isn't illegal, states can still make it really difficult to practice. In Indiana, unless the situation has changed since I lived there, it's effectively illegal since there are a lot of restrictions on who can be a midwife, where and how they can practice, etc. That's one of the reasons my mom skipped the midwife thing when she became a nurse. Quite a drag, since I was hoping she'd be the one to deliver my babies when they happen.

nyx*