Midwife legislation
Here is an important memo for the ISMA Government Relations Department. They have learned that the midwife legislation the ISMA defeated in the Senate earlier this session might be resurrected in the House. It is their understanding that language for the licensure of certified professional midwives (CPMs) will be amended into SB 86, a bill dealing with the licensure of genetic counselors.
They are asking that physicians and other healthcare providers contact the members of the House Public Health Committee and ask them to OPPOSE an amendment for the licensure of lay midwives. Here are some talking points to include in your email or phone message:
1. Delivering a baby at home with a certified professional midwife is unsafe.
a. Home delivery does not offer the same protections to the mother and baby as giving birth in a hospital. This is especially true if there are complications with the pregnancy in the home. Many times the only contingency plan for CPMs is to call 911 for help. However crucial minutes are lost during the transportation from the home to the hospital, which can lead to tragic consequences.
2. Licensing certified professional midwives will mislead the public into thinking that CPMs are equal to certified nurse midwives.
a. Nurse midwives must have a baccalaureate degree in addition to graduate work specific to midwifery. Most CPMs are only required to attend a certain number of births and pass a test to be certified. Licensing CPMs actually lowers the standards for all midwives, which could put the public at risk.
3. Liability
a. If there are complications during a home birth conducted by a CPM, where does the liability of the CPM end and the physician begin? Physicians may be liable for the malpractice of a CPM with which they have no relationship as a consequence of treating the mother and child after a complication resulting from a home birth with a CPM.
4. “They are already doing it, so why not make it legal.”
a. The CPMs argue that lay midwives are already delivering babies without a license, so the State should legalize the practice. This is a flawed argument that is dangerous to the health and safety of newborns and their mothers.
Please email or contact the members of the House Public Health committee today to let them know that you oppose the licensure of lay midwives. Ask them to defeat any potential amendments that include this language.
They are asking that physicians and other healthcare providers contact the members of the House Public Health Committee and ask them to OPPOSE an amendment for the licensure of lay midwives. Here are some talking points to include in your email or phone message:
1. Delivering a baby at home with a certified professional midwife is unsafe.
a. Home delivery does not offer the same protections to the mother and baby as giving birth in a hospital. This is especially true if there are complications with the pregnancy in the home. Many times the only contingency plan for CPMs is to call 911 for help. However crucial minutes are lost during the transportation from the home to the hospital, which can lead to tragic consequences.
2. Licensing certified professional midwives will mislead the public into thinking that CPMs are equal to certified nurse midwives.
a. Nurse midwives must have a baccalaureate degree in addition to graduate work specific to midwifery. Most CPMs are only required to attend a certain number of births and pass a test to be certified. Licensing CPMs actually lowers the standards for all midwives, which could put the public at risk.
3. Liability
a. If there are complications during a home birth conducted by a CPM, where does the liability of the CPM end and the physician begin? Physicians may be liable for the malpractice of a CPM with which they have no relationship as a consequence of treating the mother and child after a complication resulting from a home birth with a CPM.
4. “They are already doing it, so why not make it legal.”
a. The CPMs argue that lay midwives are already delivering babies without a license, so the State should legalize the practice. This is a flawed argument that is dangerous to the health and safety of newborns and their mothers.
Please email or contact the members of the House Public Health committee today to let them know that you oppose the licensure of lay midwives. Ask them to defeat any potential amendments that include this language.
Labels: legislation, midwives
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