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Political comment: Protocols?

Abstract:

At the recent Second International Homebirth Conference (Sydney), Professor Marsden Wagner, that gadfly of the obstetricians, spoke about the battle raging throughout the western world between the medical and midwifery model of childbirth. The issue, he said, is fundamental: freedom of choice versus totalitarian repression. To maintain their power, doctors raise the issue of 'safety' to generate fear and uncertainty. They also use the old tactic of divide and conquer - separating the woman from her fetus and fostering antagonism between different groups of midwives, between nurses and midwives, doctors and midwives and women providers agains women consumers. So what's new?

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medical model, midwifery model of care