Community Affairs Legislation S12666.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Proof Committee Hansard

SENATE

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Reference: Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill

2009; Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Bill

2009; Midwife Professional Indemnity (Run-off Cover Support Payment) Bill 2009

THURSDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2009

CANBERRA

CONDITIONS OF DISTRIBUTION

This is an uncorrected proof of evidence taken before the committee.

It is made available under the condition that it is recognised

as such.

BY AUTHORITY OF THE SENATE

[PROOF COPY]

TO EXPEDITE DELIVERY, THIS TRANSCRIPT HAS NOT BEEN SUBEDITED

Great work by everyone at the Senate Committee hearing yesterday! Rachel Siewart (Green's senator) asked insightful questions.

Some comments below, from members of Maternity Coalition around the subject of safety - dynamic Dr 3am's catchcry - where was he when The Butcher of Bega was out and about?

"Mrs McIntosh —The way we see it is that the woman should be at the centre of that—her choices be
respected; all the information given; and safety looked at, not only physical safety for her and the baby but
also emotional and psychological safety. They are paramount not only to a woman’s experience through
pregnancy, labour and birth but also to breastfeeding, postnatal depression, relationships, bonding and ongoing
issues with siblings. They are all so intertwined that, if a woman is not right at the centre of the collaboration,
it is probably not going to be all that effective.

Ms Catchlove—Nobody has more interest in the safety of a baby than the mother of that baby. I make a
decision for my baby and myself, and I am absolutely 100 per cent motivated by safety. And I am the only
person who can weigh up what is a safe choice for me and my family.

Mr Teakle—Safety is about being comfortable with the risks. There is no way of defining something as
being safe or unsafe. We have a bunch of different people here who are going to have different feelings about
what risks they are comfortable with. Some doctors might be comfortable with the risks of a caesarean,
because that is something they are familiar with and they feel in control of it; a midwife might feel
comfortable with something else. Once we get into an argument about other people deciding what is safe for
the woman, then we have lost focus. The woman needs to decide what she feels safe with, on the advice that is
provided to her by experts who can give her really good advice about that. That is why in other countries
informed choice has been understood as the way of getting out of these arguments.
It is terrible to have arguments going on in the media about what choices women should make. That is not
about safety; that is about control".


S12666.pdf (application/pdf Object)