In a message dated 11/07/01 3:55:00 PM AUS Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< Dear Tina, thanks for the info, I will pass it on to Sandra Kanck.
FIRSTLY...
Can I ask what other avenues have been looked at re insurance for midwives??
Have there been efforts to arrange professional insurance throught the
College of Midwives?
Cathi Tucker-Lee
Personal Assistant to
Hon Sandra Kanck MLC
Australian Democrats
Parliament House Adelaide 5000
82379278 telephone
84104171 facsimile
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
Hello Cathi
thank you for your speedy relpy. Please find below communication from the
Executive Officer of the ACMI Alana Street Re: Professional Indemnity
Insurance for midwives and from Jan Robinson, Midwife in Private Practice and
National Coordinator of the Australian Society of Independent Midwives
(ASIM), further to this issue. My understanding is that so far all attempts
to secure PI insurance for Australian midwives have failed.
Yours in birth,
Tina Pettigrew
Birthworks
Independent CBE and aspiring B.Mid Midwife.
Convenor, Aust B. Mid Student Collective.
" As we trust the flowers to open to new life
- So we can trust birth"
Harriette Hartigan.
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Subj: INSURANCE FOR MIDWIVES
Date: 9/07/01 10:40:09 AM AUS Eastern Standard Time
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Australian College of Midwives Incorporated)
Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (ozmidwifery)
Hello Midwives, I know you are all very concerned about the insurance matter.
The College is taking action to provide members with an option. We have
been endeavouring to seek alternative insurance through our legal people, who
have been searching the country. It is not a simple task. We will notifiy
members as soon as information is available. Should be tomorrow.
We too, are seriously concerned about this urgent matter.
Alana Street, RM FACM,
Executive Officer,
Australian College of Midwives Incorporated,
1st. Floor, 3 Bowen Crescent,
Melbourne, 3000.
Tel: 03 98045071 or 1300 360480
Fax: 03 98 661370
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subj: PI Solution?
Date: 11/07/01 7:25:26 AM AUS Eastern Standard Time
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jan Robinson)
Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dear list
Behind the current midwife insurance crisis is Guild's withdrawal
from the malpractice arena. All Australian insurance brokers and
underwriting companies have reassessed their business ventures since
the HIH collapse and the reality is that there are not enough insured
midwives for any of them to make a profit.
Insurance companies will not consider insuring midwives unless there
are significant numbers. All Australian companies approached by ASIM
on behalf of it's members stated that before any malpractice deal can
be firmed up they must be guaranteed numbers from the College (total
College membership approx 3000) for there to be any chance of making
the cost of PI premiums realistic.
Currently there are only two interested insurers; MCA (looking to
find underwriters in the USA) and JUA (looking for backing in the
UK). Both have stated the situation looks bleak, and they will only
attract underwriters if the College numbers are included. This means
the College will need to make PI insurance a necessary part of it's
membership fees so that all Australian midwives will share costs and
reduce PI premiums.
NUMBERS OF IPMs CURRENTLY INSURED
A recent ASIM survey of their members revealed about half of the
membership was insured with Guild; two of it's members have been
without insurance since their policy expired and the rest will
gradually become uninsured as their policies expire.
A small proportion of ASIM midwives are insured with ANF Victoria and
so far they are unaffected.
There were five members who carried no professional insurance whatsoever.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN INSURANCE RUNS OUT?
For those midwives no longer insured, there are two alternatives;
* cease their private clinical practise ...
not in their clients interest at all, but this act may goad
clients into complaining to the College, the
media, their state health departments, their local state and
federal member, or all of these.
* continue to practise without PI insurance ...
this will negate College accreditation as well as
visiting/admitting rights to accrediting hospitals [for those very few
midwives who have visiting access]
and therefore reduce women's choice of birth venues to homebirth only.
It could be argued that midwives are less likely to be sued if
uninsured. If going down this pathway midwives must inform their
clients that they are uninsured and make sure they always make
written birth plans that list all the possibilities related to every
aspect of their proposed care plan. It is also prudent for the
midwife to have all their assets in trust.
If an IPM always practises a reasonable midwife would do in any
situation then they are unlikely to be a victim of a malpractice
suit, however, the person who ultimately suffers under such
circumstances is the woman who has a damaged baby and little hope of
any financial assistance for the rest of her baby's life.
Jan Robinson Phone/fax: 011+ 61+
2+ 9546 4350
Independent Midwife Practitioner e-mail:
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8 Robin Crescent www:
midwiferyeducation.com.au
South Hurstville NSW 2221 National Coordinator, ASIM
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