Behaviour that is detrimental to achieving optimal care includes the routine
depersonalising rituals midwives "do" on women without thinking - eg VEs.
This point (1.4) actually lends strength to the argument of attending things
like VEs only when necessary and not as a routine. Just a comment!
Lynne Staff
-----Original Message-----
From: john mcdonald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Thursday, 26 August 1999 14:42
Subject: Re: Why can't we practise as midwives in hospitals?
>In Tassy the Nursing Act stated that we were only allowed to practice under
>the supervision of a doctor, so, we had to follow their directions. The Act
>now states "the nurse is authorised to practice in the restricted practice
>areas, if any, subject to the conditions, if any, specified in the
>certificate". Midwifery is considered a restriced area of practice. This
>act was designed to allow practitioner rights and slipped through without a
>murmur from the medicos.
>The only restrictions on midwifery practice that I know about (apart from
>the registering ones, poisons act etc) is hospital policy. This policy in
>the RHH is clearly documented.
>Interestingly, 1.4 of the ANCI competencies states that "Identifies unsafe
>practice and respomds appropriately to ensure a safe outcome.
>* Interventions which prevent care being compromised and/or law contravened
>are identified
>* Appropriate action to be taken in specified circumstances is identified
>* Alternative strategies for intervention and their likely outcomes are
>identified and explained
>* Behaviour that is detrimental to acheiving optimal care is identified
>* incidents of unsafe practice are followed up to prevent re-occurence"
>
>The Nursing Board in Tassy uses these competencies (and others) all the
>time to assess fitness to practice.
>So.............. I guess individual practice is limited by the mother's
>wishes, the midwife's courage and convictions and the culture/support of
>the unit.
>Regards
>Helen McDonald
>
>At 12:18 26/08/99 +1000, you wrote:
>>
>>This question may seem naive but I really can't get a clear answer?
>>
>>What policy or legislation requires hospital midwives to follow medical
>>protocols? For example: where do midwives stand if they don't do
regular
>>VEs, avoids using oxytocins or keep descriptive notes rather than use a
>>partogram?
>>
>>I can find no legislation in Qld (which doesn't mean it doesn't exist but
it
>>is not in the nursing act and I'm told it is not in the health services
>>act).
>>
>>A midwifery administrator tells me that the only way in which midwives are
>>required to follow medical protocols is that if they don't they will not
be
>>covered by the hospital's vicarious liability insurance.
>>
>>Does anyone know anymore?
>>
>>
>>Dr. Kathleen Fahy
>>Associate Professor
>>Midwifery Co-ordinator
>>University Southern Queensland
>>07 46312377
>>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
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