The Prosecution of a Midwife…
Hello All,
I was going to immediately blog about the midwife who inspired these two comics ( You Asked For It! and Third Oldest Profession!) , but because it’s a situation that is currently being decided in courts, etc. I don’t want to give away too much information, and possibly hurt the cause. Only helpful. Not hurtful. SO, I’m sending the information about it, while removing the personal, which I am sure you can find else where…and I’ll let you know more as I get clearance;o)
The following is a message from the midwife being
prosecuted:
To all supporters of homebirth and women’s rights,
On Friday afternoon, my house was raided by the local police with a
search warrant for all of my midwifery supplies, equipment, charts,
records, textbooks, etc , along with some of my personal belongings,
(many hundreds of dollars) claiming that I was violating Ohio code of
practicing medicine without a license, practicing nursing without a
license and using titles that I did not have.I have not been officially charged yet but the search warrant is
usually the last thing done in an investigation, so they will soon be
prepared to charge me.All who care about a woman’s right to choose WHERE and WITH WHOM they
give birth need to be aware that their choices are being taken away
from them at this very moment.As a CPM, I have done all that I can to be accountable and regulated,
but without State regulation, ANY midwife is vulnerable to this kind
of persecution. It could be YOUR midwife next!This is devistating to my calling, to my kids, my husband and all who
I have served. Because of the trauma it has caused to my family, I no
longer will practice as a midwife.It’s too late for me to be protected under the law, through licensure
and a midwifery board but it’s not too late for the other wonderful
midwives providing selfless care to you and others.Now is the time to come together and make a change. Before this
happens again!
Absolutely!
Love,
Heather
fibercrazed said,
October 24, 2007 @ 8:16 am
I’m in Ohio and under midwifery care at the moment and I have only heard of this here. (I need to call my midwives). I have Googled every key word I can think of and nothing comes up. The only thing more appaling than the state of Ohio harrassing midwives is that it seems to not even be news worth reporting! (either that or the state is keeping is very quiet.) regardless, it’s upsetting, disturbing and plain WRONG!
janaki said,
October 24, 2007 @ 11:32 am
I’m in Ohio too. It’s a shame this woman isn’t getting positive media attention, or ANY media attention for that matter. Let’s all go and squirt milk at them!!!
bunnywhack said,
October 25, 2007 @ 1:09 am
This isnt relevant to the post but is everything ok with Hathor does anyone know? what with those fires over there. Ill keep checking back but heather if your reading this i hope that you and yours (and everyone else)are all ok
amyphilo said,
October 25, 2007 @ 7:29 am
This is crap. What is this world coming to? Why would we prosecute a MIDWIFE and not the OBs and hospitals who kill thousands of women and babies and maim them and ruin lives?
amyphilo said,
October 25, 2007 @ 7:37 am
Ugh my comments have disappeared twice. My computer is weird. Anyway, if the OBGYNS don’t like it, too bad. I am not going to use them for anything unless it becomes a necessity to save my life. Off to schedule my well woman annual exam with my midwife!
Hathor said,
October 25, 2007 @ 7:51 am
Hi Bunnywhack and other well wishers,
Me and family are fine, though a little cough-y, the smoke is pretty brutal all over LA but we’re staying indoors and taking it easy, and we are blessed with healthy lungs. We’re headed out in an hour to do a Halloween party that looks like it won’t have many attendees because of the fires, but that’s the most inconvenienced we’ve been. Thank you for thinking of me!
Love,
Heather
janaki said,
October 26, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
So glad you’re alright!