| The divide between midwives and obstetrician has | | | | sparked a heated debate about who should be |
| widened as a specific case in which an injured | | | | the primary care takers of patients and families |
| baby's delayed birth comes t the spotlight. The | | | | that are expecting. The difference in the |
| case highlighted the differences between | | | | philosophy care at the time of birth took center |
| obstetricians and midwives because of the way | | | | stage. |
| the mother and her baby were cared for. | | | | It has been found that obstetricians take a |
| The Health and Disability Commissioner found that | | | | risk-averse and interventionist approach toward |
| the baby's injuries could have been avoided if the | | | | the birthing process. From this standpoint there is |
| mother's birthing location was moved much earlier | | | | a certain emphasis on ensuring the safety of the |
| than it actually was. According to reports, the | | | | mother and her child during the entire process. |
| mother was admitted to a rural maternity hospital | | | | Using technology to monitor what is going on and |
| when she went into labor. After twelve hours and | | | | trying to figure out the reasons for them are all a |
| a "prolonged second stage" of labor, an ambulance | | | | part of this certain approach. And while these |
| was arranged to transport the mother to the | | | | procedures can have their own dangers, |
| nearby hospital, a two and a half hour drive away. | | | | convention has certainly favored its predictive |
| Doctors later found that the baby was in an | | | | nature. |
| awkward position, necessitating an emergency | | | | Midwives are less "interventionist" in general. The |
| cesarean section to perform the birth. The baby | | | | emphasis is also placed on safety, but midwives |
| stopped breathing very shortly after birth and | | | | believe that this is best achieved through having |
| was admitted to neonatal intensive care. The | | | | the most natural birth as possible. However, there |
| baby also sustained severe bruising on his brow | | | | are risks here as well. Any kind of an emergency |
| and face, while also suffering a "crush injury" to | | | | can take place unexpectedly and midwives might |
| his nose. | | | | not have to staff or the technology to deal with |
| The controversy on the matter is focused on the | | | | a serious emergency. |
| standard of treatment given to patients. This | | | | |