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Sad Day For Midwives And Homebirthers in North Carolina - Page 2

post #21 of 35
6/9/12 at 10:13am

Another update for anyone following this thread: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/06/08/2124575/midwives-win-grace-period.html
 

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post #22 of 35
6/18/12 at 7:28am

More info on this:

 

Support Independent Practice for North Carolina Nurse Midwives

http://signon.org/sign/support-independent-practice?source=s.em.cp&r_by=4671149
 

post #23 of 35
7/6/12 at 6:13pm

The issue is "supervision". It is not clearly defined in the law. A CNM must be able to consult with the "supervising doctor" and potentially transfer care in a timely manner. If the supervision isn't "geographically" close, questions can be raised as to how "safe" the care is. I understand this. Hopefully at a meeting later this month the definition will be clarified.

I understand it, but I have issues with the whole supervision thing to start with. 

Meanwhile, the CPM's are on a roll to get their status legalized in NC. Here's hoping....

post #24 of 35
7/7/12 at 3:34am
I think that bill is already dead.
post #25 of 35
7/10/12 at 1:47pm

Is there any update?  I just moved from Fayetteville to Tampa and our midwife ( I believe) was affected by this.  Is it just midwives that used Dr. Dorn as a backup? I had heard that it was all the doctors, so I'm confused.  I'm also several states away and can't chat with my homebirthing friends as easily anymore.  Just curious.  We're moving back in 2 years and would hate to use that as a decision on whether or not to have any more children!

post #26 of 35
7/10/12 at 3:41pm

Just Dr. Dorn. I see a group of NC midwives who are still practicing legally. 

post #27 of 35
7/13/12 at 12:14pm

Any news? *bump* :)

 

Also, really, the whole supervisory thing is bureaucratic excess.  Your home, your body, and you decided to have a care provider come to you.  Sex in your home is allowed if its two consenting adults, why can't two consenting people put together a plan for a birth?  Nobody would put together a home birth plan without a hospital transfer idea in there somewhere, so what if you want Plan A to include just a MW?  Does NC have nothing else going on right now, no drugs, crime, unemployment or failed schools?  Is it like some paradise utopia so politicians are bored?  For all of how annoying it can be to live in fringe central, the birth laws here are a blessing.

post #28 of 35
7/13/12 at 12:39pm
It's not just home birth midwives, it's all midwives, so it impacts birth centers, too.
post #29 of 35
7/15/12 at 7:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rrrrrachel View Post

It's not just home birth midwives, it's all midwives, so it impacts birth centers, too.

 

No, as I understand it, this particular incident only affects the homebirth CNM midwives who lost their supervising physician.   The 2 NC birth centers were not affected by this and are still seeing clients and have been taking in the CNM's patients.  The latest I've heard is that the Midwifery Joint Committee has given these midwives a final deadline of August 31st to find a new supervising physician... only one of the affected midwives has been able to do so so far and it's not looking good for the others.  So right now, the only homebirth CNMs in NC that I know of are two in Asheville (who only do homebirths if you are in a 20 minute radius of Asheville) and one in Wilmington,  and the only birth centers are in Statesville and Chapel Hill (plus the one in nearby Rock Hill, SC)... there may be a few other homebirth CNMs who still have a physician, but I don't know for sure.  Anybody else know?  If you're not in one of these lucky regions of the state, you're out of luck, as this leaves the majority of the state with no option except a hospital birth, unassisted homebirth, or homebirth with an illegal midwife.  

 

The NC legislative session is now over for the year, and I don't believe the CPM bill ever made it to the floor, so it doesn't look like there will be any policy relief possible till next year's session which begins in the spring.  Anybody know more?

post #30 of 35
7/15/12 at 10:20am
Right, this incident only impacts midwives that this doctor was supervising, but the law requiring supervision impact all midwives.
post #31 of 35
7/15/12 at 5:33pm

I'm late to this discussion.  I just wanted to add that when this all went down, I contacted the state medical board via email and got a response the very next day.  Here is one line from their email that I found interesting:

 

At this time, there is no Board Action or restriction on Dr. Dorn's authority to supervise CNMs or any other midlevel practitioner at this time. If and when the Board were to take action related to Dr. Dorn, it would be communicated in a public document posted on the Board’s website. Until such time, if ever, that occurs Dr. Dorn has a free and unrestricted license.

 

 

I am pregnant with #3 and was not planning on using one of these CNM's for a HB.  I actually wanted to deliver at the birth center in Fort Mill, but my insurance is causing a major issue with me wanting to do that, so I'll be having a HB, the only way available to me.  

 

I don't want to hijack this thread, but moms in the Charlotte and surrounding areas who have BCBS as their insurance should be allowed to choose a birth center if they want to.  Please check out my petition to BCBS to allow this:  http://www.change.org/petitions/bcbsnc-executive-vp-and-chief-operating-officer-allow-pregnant-women-to-receive-care-at-any-free-standing-birth-center?utm_source=guides&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=one_hundred_signatures

post #32 of 35
7/16/12 at 4:54am

I believe there are four New Dawn MWs currently attending HB and they serve within a thirty minute radius of Mission hospital. 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by treehugz View Post

 

So right now, the only homebirth CNMs in NC that I know of are two in Asheville (who only do homebirths if you are in a 20 minute radius of Asheville) 

post #33 of 35
3/6/13 at 1:42pm

Here's the latest about a proposed CPM bill in NC.  I believe a CNM bill will be introduced this session too.

http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/legislation-would-decriminalize-midwifery/Content?oid=3369078

post #34 of 35
3/6/13 at 7:30pm

Thanks for the heads up!

post #35 of 35
4/16/13 at 2:27pm

Consider joining North Carolina Friends of Midwives and keep up to date with all the things happening here in NC. And updates regarding the bills that have been drafted!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/17009147483/ and http://ncfom.org

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