[Stretcher Bearer]

I'm somewhat uncomfortable being a devils advocate here but reading the article and as a Registered Nurse and Paramedic, I feel I have to......

Under the draft Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, released last week, a midwife cannot be registered unless she has insurance.

Midwives as a group are consistently requesting to be independent practitioners and regarding as competent to contribute in that role. To practice for an employer, their insurance is meant to cover you. However, Nursing bodies recommend independent malpractice/indemnity insurance for all nurses. So really this isn't a new expectation.

But with insurance companies and the Government so far refusing to include home births in the indemnity scheme, midwives will face being de-registered if they attend a homebirth.

So the cause should be to force legislation for reasonable indemnity insurance.

"Even though only less than half a per cent of women have homebirths, they should have the same rights as a woman who chooses to have a caesarean. Home-births won't stop."

Caesareans aren't done at home last time I looked. Choice isn't the issue. Adequate financial coverage is. Every one is happy until something sadly goes wrong and a poor midwife is sent into financial ruin because of inadequate insurance covering legal action.

But from July 2010, they will no longer be able to call themselves midwives even though they are trained. Only those insured and registered can use the term midwife, otherwise they face a $30,000 fine

The terms Registered Nurse and Midwife are protected titles so that isn't new. Registration is one thing, insurance to practice outside and hospital again harps back to adequate affordable insurance.

"It breaks my heart to hear that the Government will do this," she said. "This is about choice.

It's about affordable insurance

"The Government should be driving this and helping midwives who want to (do) homebirths. They will never be able to afford insurance."

By allowing legislation to provide affordable and sufficient insurance.

Home Births Australia secretary Justine Caines said the new law took away the rights of women

Birthing is a collaboration. The new law hasn't even been passed, yet the wrong message has been sent.

The minister I have heard previously seem pretty supportive of midwives. To receive the outcome that allows them to practice supportively and independently is about affordability of insurance that safely covers their practice. That has to be the warcry. The aim is about protecting the public as much as protecting Midwifery Professionals.

Burying this amongst emotive rhetoric will have a negative effect. I appreciate the opportunity for home births having attended a few. I am also well aware of when things sadly go wrong and in a very big way. It is very easy for the happy partnership to disintegrate when clients look for an outcome legally.

I hope a successful outcome is reached for those who seek homebirths.