In the last couple of months, British Columbia's physicians have woken up to the fact that legislation regulating midwifery and enabling midwives to apply for hospital privileges would come into effect on Jan. 1, 1998. Midwifery has been fumed over, argued about and railed against for years. After all, there is no tradition of midwifery in Canada, unlike much of Europe, where this training is available to registered nurses. So it comes as no surprise that physicians, obstetrical nurses and, indeed, nurses in other specialty areas are deeply suspicious of midwifery as a concept and in practice.
Misinformation is rife.
Anger threatens to spill over into hostile confrontation, which at best undermines the quality of patient care, at worst precipitates disaster. It is time to do a reality check, go back to basics for accurate information and try to cool some overfuelled jets. First of all, the legislation. It declares midwifery to be an autonomous profession for duly licensed practitioners. It directs that midwives should be part of the hospital medical staff.