This is a call to action for all citizens of Virginia who have an interest in out of hospital birth services. The issue of access to medications for women using the services of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) is currently before the Board of Medicine (BOM.) Strong citizen support is needed to communicate to the BOM that the women and babies who receive midwifery care in Virginia prefer for their midwives to be legally able to administer medications. Although CPMs are trained to carry and administer some medications considered necessary for safe and effective midwifery care in out of hospital birth, the current Virginia statute for Licensed Midwifery specifically prohibits them to do so. For many women seeking out of hospital birth, this dilemma represents a compromise to optimal safety in rare emergencies that occur for healthy women (postpartum bleeding), as well as access and convenience for medications for their newborns (Vitamin K, erythromycin).
Click link for full details.
http://richmondmidwife.com/Documents/CMA%20ACTION%20ALERT%20-%20Jan%202011.pdf
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