Hello! I've been looking all over the place for the laws regarding this in Canada.

I'm doing a lot of homework in regards to my upcoming birth which I intend to be a homebirth, but my midwife won't do a homebirth if the baby's breech because of legal restrictions on midwives in my province. If at birth the baby is found to be breech I'd be transferred to the hospital and would have a Dr. deliver the baby as the midwife would have no authority in that situation although she would still remain as a support person.

The hospital here has a policy that breech babies are
c-sections. I've done a lot of research into the informed consent laws in Canada and know that it is my right to refuse a c-section even if the baby is breech regardless of "policy", which I will do. I will at least attempt to do a vaginal birth on my terms and will only consent to a c-section if I feel it's necessary.(Which is well within my legal rights and should legally have no impact on the quality of care I receive as i'm sure all of you know LOL.)

My question is mostly arising from the fact that if someone insists on trying a vaginal breech delivery they'll fly you to Vancouver (I'm on Vancouver Island, this would mean I'd be seperated from my family.) for the delivery. (Which I don't want to do for many reasons.) My concern is that if I don't have enough time to make it to Vancouver I will still refuse a c-section in my local hospital regardless of their policy/recommendations.

I'm wanting to educate myself on the Dr's right to refuse a patient in an urgent situation (Which I'm pretty sure is illegal as if they object to treating you as far as I know they legally have to provide you with someone who will treat you and give you ample warning that they're "firing" you as a patient.) as I know the Dr's here and their egos and can foresee this being a bit of a problem if I refuse to follow their recommendations. I'm also concerned that even if I do get shipped to Vancouver that I won't make it in time or my care will be compromised in the delay and the subsequent need to try to find someone to care for me in Vancouver. The medi-flights are notoriously slow to pick up patients and the organization of it all/the trip may take a couple of hours which will nix my ability to travel if I progress quickly.

If anyone knows where I can find out the medical ethics regarding this in Canada or BC more precisely I'd be much obliged.

Well depends *where* on Vancouver Island you are on how your care will be handled during the flight.

If you are up here in the Valley....the SARTECHS are pretty good. Acctually excellent above par, and the Cormerants are pretty decent too.

Of course there are TONS Of chiropractors around that know the webster technique, so give them a shot.


BTW, Dr's can't legally refuse you in an emergency situation here....they can't say "OMGZORS Breech!! No F'n way am I touching that", then leaving you to rot They *HAVE* to catch regardless of presentation....they can shove the baby back up and do a section...but if babe is too far out..well la dee da they gotta catch...

BTW According to my Doula, it's provincial regulations that prevent OB's at smaller hospitals from doing breech catches.....

If by the valley you mean the, I'm thereabouts.

We had a very severe emergency issue with one of my sons and had to be flown to Vancouver and it's not something that I would like to rely on again for an emergency situation. It took HOURS to get everything organised (Not impressed.) and I can just see myself going from 3 cm to 10cm and pushing in a flash LOL.

I'm pretty sure on the laws regarding refusing a patient etc. as well, but I'm just looking for something solid that I can print out kwim? It took me forever to find the informed consent laws as it is LOL

I've had a horrible history with the hospital here, and I'm just trying to prepare myself as much as possible.

If it comes down to it, I'm perfectly okay with walking in there at ten cm and demanding immediate care and refusing a c-section and asserting my rights, I just like to have some ammo for if I need to assert my rights even if the Dr. doesn't agree with me. Which is probably what would happen in that sort of a situation LOL.

Thanks for replying!

Really? Wow. I've heard nothing but decent things about the hospital here. The Head of the whole shbang was the Dr who caught me when I was born, and he was also the Dr who helped all the midwives get their testing done and whatnot.....Dr. Don Fockler. Ask your midwife about him. Heheh Heck you n I probably ran into each other at the office once or something lol since I'm going to the Birthtides clinic.

I suggest you hit up one of the local chiros around here for the Webster technique. There are quite a few that are certified in it, there are a few accupuncturists too that can do that moxobowhatchimicallit technique.

That way you can tell the midwives you wanna stay home. :D

There are ways to keep your baby from flipping once you feel he/she is head down. Once you have that "OMG there's a f'n bowling ball down there" Do a deeeeeep squat, even sit on the toilet for a mo to open your pelvis up to let the little critter settle right in, then stand up as fast as you can to snap the pelvis back into order around the kiddo's head...keeping him there. http://www.spinningbabies.org is also a very good resource to keep your baby head down.

Trust me, I've been working on the whole positioning thing too and ;) With luck my little critter will stay head down too.