Physician Group Seeks to Outlaw Home Birth—Is Jail for Moms Next?
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Just in time for Father’s Day, at its annual meeting last
weekend, the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted a resolution to introduce legislation
outlawing home birth, and potentially making criminals of the mothers who choose home birth with the
help of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs) for their families.
“It’s unclear what penalties the AMA will seek to impose on women who choose to give birth at home,
either for religious, cultural or financial reasons—or just because they didn’t make it to the hospital in
time,” said Susan Jenkins, Legal Counsel for The Big Push for Midwives 2008 campaign. “What we do
know, however, is that any state that enacts such a law will immediately find itself in court, since a law
dictating where a woman must give birth would be a clear violation of fundamental rights to privacy and
other freedoms currently protected by the U.S. Constitution.”
So, I guess midwifery is sort of like that two steps forward, one step back thing. I have to say, though, it's a bit scary that the AMA feels that it can outlaw homebirth. Aren't they just the American Medical Association? Like, not the lawmakers?!? Start raising my bail money!!!
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