Midwife hits back at inquest findings

LISA Barrett has hit back at coronial inquest findings that reject her claim she acted as a "birth advocate", not midwife, during a fatal home delivery last October.

CONTROVERSIAL midwife Lisa Barrett has hit back at coronial inquest findings that reject her claim she acted as a "birth advocate", not midwife, during a fatal home delivery last October.

The findings, handed down by Deputy State Coroner Anthony Schapel yesterday, also question the suitability of homebirth in high-risk pregnancies, encourage greater education about hospital births and call for midwives who aren't registered but practice to be criminally sanctioned.

On her Twitter page today Ms Barrett condemned Mr Schapel's findings.

"(He is) acting as his own expert against medical evidence," she commented online.

"Obstetricians disagree with (my) beliefs because they just don't like them."

That Twitter account has since been closed down.

Mr Schapel found that Ms Barrett had continued to attend homebirths and perform midwifery duties since rescinding her registrations at the start of 2011.

He said her role in the ill-fated homebirth of twin Tully Oliver Kavanagh in October last year amounted to more than a "birth advocate".

"It is obvious to the Court that in respect of Tully Kavanagh, Ms Barrett was performing the clinical duties and responsibilities of a midwife," Mr Schapel said.

"Even if she had not been called upon to perform any of the usual tasks that a midwife performs... she was certainly there and on hand to deal with any complication or emergency that might have arisen."

Mr Schapel also recommended that any health worker performing midwifery duties should be registered and consequently abide by a code of conduct and be required to be insured.

He said anyone who acted outside of those bounds should be susceptible to criminal punishment under new legislation, which he has called on Health Minister John Hill introduce.

During the inquest into Tully's death, Ms Barrett refused to answer questions, invoking the privilege against self-incrimination.

Mark Twiggs, for Ms Barrett, told the Coroner's Court Ms Barrett was under police investigation.

"It's my advice for her not to answer any questions," he said.

Mr Twiggs said there were "many" charges Ms Barrett could face under the Criminal Law Consolidation Act.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Ms Barrett was also present when Tate Spencer-Koch died during homebirth in July 2007, and similarly during the ill-fated delivery of Jahli Jean Hobbs in April 2009.

She was registered at that time.