British Columbian midwives apply for legal recognition.--Vancouver, B.C., August 20, 1992. The Midwives' Association of British Columbia (MABC MABC Master of Arts in Business Communication MABC Mining Association of British Columbia (Canada) MABC Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling MABC Mid-Atlantic Bridge Conference MABC Modal Absorbing Boundary Conditions ) today announced it has applied to the new Health Professions Council for legal recognition of midwifery midwifery (mĭd`wī'fərē), art of assisting at childbirth. The term midwife for centuries referred to a woman who was an overseer during the process of delivery. In ancient Greece and Rome, these women had some formal training. as a selfgoverning profession. In November of 1991, the Royal Commission on Health Care and Costs recommended that midwifery be legalized as an autonomous profession in British Columbia. "By submitting our application for designation as a health profession, we have started the formal process towards recognition and we expect that midwifery will be legalized...within the next twelve months," said Linda Knox, President of the Midwives' Association, which has 50 midwife members. Canada has been the only industrialized in·dus·tri·al·ize v. in·dus·tri·al·ized, in·dus·tri·al·iz·ing, in·dus·tri·al·iz·es v.tr. 1. To develop industry in (a country or society, for example). 2. nation in the world without legally recognized midwifery as part of its health care system. Now both Ontario and Alberta have passed legislation to provide this essential service. "We hope to have legal status by May of 1993, when our Association is hosting the Triennial tri·en·ni·al adj. 1. Occurring every third year. 2. Lasting three years. n. 1. A third anniversary. 2. A ceremony or celebration occurring every three years. Congress of the International Confederation of Midwives The International Confederation of Midwives, or ICM, supports and advises associations of midwives. The ICM is an accredited non-governmental organization and works closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, UNFPA, and other organisations worldwide to achieve common (ICM ICM Intercom ICM Integrated Crop Management ICM International Congress of Mathematicians ICM Information Classification and Management ICM Intelligent Contact Management (Cisco) ICM International Creative Management ) in Vancouver....We will be welcoming over 2000 midwives from around the world to Vancouver--the first time since its inception that the ICM has allowed their Congress to be hosted by a member country that does not recognize midwifery as a legal profession...." said Carol Hird, President of the ICM and vice-president of the MABC. Around the world 75% of babies born today are born into the hands of midwives. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes midwives as international specialists in normal childbirth. Numerous studies have demonstrated that midwives provide the safest standard of maternity care. "This application for regulation and legalization LEGALIZATION. The act of making lawful. 2. By legalization, is also understood the act by which a judge or competent officer authenticates a record, or other matter, in order that the same may be lawfully read in evidence. Vide Authentication. for midwives under the Health Professions Act merely brings B.C. into line with the rest of the industrialized nations and with the Provinces of Alberta and Ontario," said Knox. The consumer-based Midwifery Task Force has 500 members and 1500 active supporters. |
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