My submission to the Senate Committee

[Julie Doula]

What was meant to be a positive development for dealing with birth complications was becoming the default.

This gave me chills .... so true.

Unfortunately, we have found that Dr Thou is a rarity. And he fights a tide that pressures him to comply. I fear that he could be deregistered and/or refused insurance if he colludes with the homebirthing 'enemy'.

As has happened to other highly skilled obstetricians who supported natural birth and homebirth. Refusing insurance to doctors who follow compassion and common sense instead of strict obstetric parameters some of which are not even evidence-based, is a tactic used to force compliance among doctors. Some OBs in the USA have resorted to hanging up a signs saying, 'We do not have insurance' just so that they can practice according to conscience.

Obstetrics will not collaborate with midwifery. They will redefine it. All that will be left is obstetric nurses afraid for their jobs

Chills again ...

Ben, if you and your beautiful wife should decide to have more children, with or without the legal safety and assurance of government and legislative support, you will have a circle of people around you abo****ely committed to seeing that you receive the best care possible, even if they have to break the 'law' to do it. You both deserve it. Every birthing couple does.