HOMEBIRTH.
WHAT'S THE CRIME?
Homebirther one day, criminal the next. How is that possible?
RALLY FOR HOMEBIRTH
7 SEPTEMBER 2009
11.30am
CANBERRA
PARLIAMENT HOUSE
In July 2010 homebirth and independent midwifery will become illegal under currently proposed legislation. A $30,000 fine will be the penalty for an attending midwife and the woman who seeks to hire her.
The right to choose how and where we birth is vital to the wellbeing of Australian women, our families and communities.
If we lose that basic right, what will be targeted next?
The Federal Government has conveniently ignored the fact that over half of the responses to the Maternity Services Review advocated for more accessible homebirth services including publically funded homebirth.
The legislation bars midwives from attending homebirths by implementing a national registration of health professionals and the conditions of compulsory registration (insurance requirements) exclude midwives. Professional indemnity insurance is not available to midwives.
Draft legislation
QUOTE:Subdivision 6 General QUOTE:101 Conditions of registration SOURCES: GUIDE TO THE EXPOSURE DRAFT OF THE HEALTH PRACTITIONER REGULATION NATIONAL LAW 2009 |
Join women and men from across Australia who care about the future of birth to speak out for the rights of all Australian women to choose how, where and with whom they birth.
RALLY FOR HOMEBIRTH
7
SEPTEMBER 2009
11.30am
CANBERRA
THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE
What are people saying about this attack on human rights?
There will also be a penalty for “inciting unprofessional conduct”, of up to $30 000. One can only assume that this could apply to pregnant women who beg their midwife to attend their homebirth. Homebirth just got a whole lot more expensive. What about women who accidentally or ‘accidentally’ happen to be having a precipitous birth as the midwife arrives for a routine checkup? Perhaps women need to prepare to have their home declared a crime scene should such a thing eventuate - especially if something goes wrong, through nobody’s negligence but just by chance. http://viv.id.au/blog/20090625.5487/homebirth-to-become-illegal-in-a-year/ |
Even if you view homebirth as something that only affects a minority of women, is this the kind of society you want your daughters to grow up in? One which forces them to subject to government control over their basic human right to choose where and with whom they give birth? Do we really want them to submit to a “just lie down and open your legs like a good girl because we’re doing what is best for you” paradigm?
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WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Read more at the following;
http://www.savehomebirth.com.au/
http://www.homebirth.net.au/2009/06/college-of-midwives.html
http://www.homebirth.net.au/2009/06/exterminate.html
http://midwivesvictoria.blogspot.com/2009/06/from-health-minister.html
http://viv.id.au/blog/20090625.5487/homebirth-to-become-illegal-in-a-year/
http://www.ilithyiainspired.com/2009/06/save-homebirth-ralley-september-7.html
http://casmccullough.com/blog/?p=52
Sign the petition here.
How to contact politicians here.
Join the forums to become part of the ground swell needed to overturn this attempt to criminalise women.
Homebirth.
What’s the crime?
