File(s) under permanent embargo
Regulation of unregistered birth workers in Australia: Homebirth and public safety
Aim: To explore the consequences for the availability of birth choices for women that arise from the introduction of negative licensing.
Discussion: An analysis of the regulatory framework and recent cases of unregistered birth workers attending homebirths reveals problems with equitable access to homebirth support, arising from issues with professional indemnity insurance, geography, and poor integration with hospitals and the wider healthcare system. These problems contribute to women choosing to employ the services of unregistered birth workers.
Conclusion: Negative licensing provides a useful additional tool for improving the safety of homebirths for mothers and babies, but it does not address the issues leading expectant parents to choose an unregistered birth worker to attend their births, and may contribute to an increase in high-risk behaviours, such as freebirthing.
History
Publication title
Women and BirthVolume
31Pagination
134-142ISSN
1871-5192Department/School
Menzies Institute for Medical ResearchPublisher
Elsevier BVPlace of publication
NetherlandsRights statement
© 2017 Australian College of Midwives. Published by ElsevierRepository Status
- Restricted