Tasmania to consider legislation to crack down on unregistered birth workers
Feedback is being sought on a new home-birthing model aimed at improving access and safety as the state government considers a crackdown. How ‘free-birthing’ has turned deadly.
The Tasmanian government will consider legislation to crack down on unregistered birth workers, as it seeks feedback on a new home-birthing model aimed at improving access and safety.
Earlier this week Australia’s peak bodies for obstetricians and midwives jointly called for the nationwide adoption of South Australian laws that impose fines and potential jail terms on unregistered workers providing clinical services during birth.
It follows a series of deaths during so-called “free-birthing”, where a woman decides to give birth without the support of a registered health professional.
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists President Dr Nisha Khot said the legislation would help reduce avoidable harm.
“This legislation is basically about holding people to account when they advertise themselves as being able to provide health care without having qualifications to do so,” Dr Khot said.
In South Australia, anyone found performing restricted birthing practices without qualifications can be fined up to $30,000 or jailed for up to 12 months.
Tasmania joins New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland in saying they will consider legislation.
“The Tasmanian Government will closely consider this issue, including evaluating all available information and relevant legislation,” Health Minister Bridget Archer told the Mercury.
It comes while the government seeks feedback on a new public sector home-birthing model.
Initially flagged in September, the model would allow midwives who are employed in the public system to assist with homebirths, offering greater choice for expectant mothers and protection for midwives.
Its implementation would bring Tasmania in line with the majority of the country, with women currently only able to access privately practicing midwives for homebirths.
Dr Khot said without a regulated, publicly-funded home birthing model women faced greater safety risks.
But she stressed the model relied on adequate resourcing.
“We are supportive of home birth. We have looked at the evidence, and the evidence is that for women who don’t have significant risk factors in their pregnancy, home birth is safe,” she said.
“In the Tasmanian context, the absolutely critical thing to having a successful home birth program is having the safety, having the staffing and having the funding.
“Women will ultimately make the choices that work best for them. And of course, for women, if there isn’t a choice to have a home birth safely with and within a program which is funded for them, they’re going to look for other options if that is what they want.”
Ms Archer said the proposed model would have “robust” safety protocols.
“The issue of unregistered workers providing clinical services during births should not be confused with the potential introduction of homebirth models of care,” Ms Archer said.
“The proposed homebirth model in Tasmania includes robust clinical governance, safety and quality standards, evidence-based clinical guidelines, and care provided by qualified midwives.
“All midwives operating with Tasmanian maternity services are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and are required to meet the regulatory standard set by the NMBA.”
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Originally published as Tasmania to consider legislation to crack down on unregistered birth workers
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