On March 30, 2009 Governer Kaine signed HB 2163, setting standards for informed choices in maternity care a law. HB 2163 will go into effect on July 1, 2009. It will require regulations for Certified Professional Midwives (CPM's) to disclose to their clients “evidenced based information” about the risks associated with vbac, breech, and twin deliveries occuring at home or birth centers.
Midwives and home birth consumers originally opposed the bill as it was introduced by Delegate Matt Lohr (R), Harrisonburg, because it showed a lack of understanding that the hallmark of midwifery care is already education and informed choice. Another injustice was that it’s wording implies that only the risks associated with home birth, and not hospital birth, need to be addressed by the Commonwealth as priority issues. Many opponents of the bill wondered why women receiving care in medical practices aren’t being told of the risks associated for current and future pregnancies, with elective repeat cesearean section. In fact, they aren’t even being given the opportunity to choose between relative risks because many hospitals have VBAC bans that are not official, or de facto bans.
When the midwives asked Delegate Lohr to add the qualifier “evidence based” to the language of the bill, they found themselves more able to accept the redundant legislation in the hopes that it will not only provide some measure of education and reassurance about the Midwives Model of Care to the medical community but it will also create a legislative model for a standard for informed choice for all other health professionals.
Another great result of this unexpected drama at the General Assembly was a renewal of energy for the midwifery grassroots network in Virginia. It was pretty amazing to see how quickly forces can be mustered to fight back against any efforts to restrict access to midwifery care in Virginia. Connections were renewed through the Virginia Birth Politcal Action Committee (VA Birth PAC) listserv and also saw the new technologies of blogs, Facebook, and even Twitter giving much needed connections to all of the people who care about birth. Perhaps most important, the supporters showed the legislators and the medical community that their community remains a powerful force and that respectful communication and open dialogue will bring the most success in the ongoing struggle to understand how to integrate midwifery care into the existing healthcare system.
Submitted by Brynne Potter
Very nice site! is it yours too
Posted by: John1298 | 09/21/2009 at 07:12 PM