Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Medicine
 
chapter
Regulations Governing the Practice of Licensed Midwives [18 VAC 85 ‑ 130]
Action Disclosure requirements for high-risk pregnancies
Stage NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 11/25/2009
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11/5/09  11:27 am
Commenter: Dr. Lori Flanagan

Equality of regulations
 

I hope that you will consider expanding the requirement of giving factual information to all members of the maternity care system including obstetricians and general practioners.  Women and their families have a right to know choosing a ceserean carries with it an increased risk of death for the mother and an increased risk of permanent lung damage for their child. 

I would love to see this expanded to include that doctors and midwives keep mandatory records or their ceserean rates and other measures of infant and maternal mortality and morbididty that they make available to potential clients.  Similarly, hospitals should be required to keep similar records.  In the interest of public health expectant parents should be given information such as the percentage of infants delivered at a facility that are admitted to the NICU.

Full disclosure, evidenced based care and equality are a wonderful idea.  Thanks.

CommentID: 10070