Two weeks ago at the Iowa Department of Public Health, a public hearing was held with the Midwifery Scope of Practice Review Committee. Twenty-eight individuals presented their views on homebirth and the safety of midwife-attended birth. Women and men--mothers, fathers, grandparents--spoke eloquently and with emotion about birth in the home setting. One brave doctor from Cantril, Iowa came forward in favor of direct entry midwives and homebirth. Children spoke. One midwife (a NARM certified CPM) risked jail to be heard asking the question, "Why do I not enjoy the constitutional right to ply my trade in this state?" It was the last chance for citizens of Iowa to be heard.
A woman representing the state's surgeon general opposed direct entry midwives (since the 1970s non-nurse midwifery has been a felony in the state of Iowa). The Iowa Association of Nurses was also opposed.
Beverly Francis, a direct entry midwife indicted and forced out of practice, has remained the cornerstone of the battle to re-legalize midwifery in Iowa. Beverly, after promising not to attend births as long as it is illegal in Iowa, told the judge that she would then fight tirelessly to legalize midwifery, one of the state's oldest professions, once again. For years Beverly has worked toward this endeavor. She earned herself a seat on the scope of practice review committee and made it her business to educate the other members. She had warned that the members, mostly doctors, were split, but more than half were opposed to direct entry midwifery and homebirth. For those in favor of midwifery, it looked grim.
At the end of the day the committee decided to recommend that the Iowa state legislature decriminalize direct entry midwifery as the current laws posed a potential threat to the public's safety (i.e. homebirths without the benefit of midwives in attendance).
So you see there are still miracles on earth. With the help of angels like Beverly Francis the legislative body of one Midwestern state will now decide to respect the recommendation of this learned committee or not. Prayers are still needed.
-Robin Lim
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 2 Issue 4, Jan 28, 2000)
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