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The Secrets of Midwives


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Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

Created: 12/26/15

Replies: 15

Posted Dec. 26, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

We are able to observe as Grace weighs her options for how to proceed during the homebirth that results in her suspension. Do you think she did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position? Did you opinion of what she did remain the same or change after the conversation she has with the investigator from the Board of Nursing?


Posted Jan. 01, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
deeh

Join Date: 03/03/12

Posts: 239

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

Yes, I think she made the right choices. My opinion remained unchanged. The doctor at the emergency room who filed the report was just looking for something to use to discredit midwives.


Posted Jan. 02, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
terriej

Join Date: 07/28/11

Posts: 422

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

I feel that Grace did the right thing.


Posted Jan. 02, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joyz

Join Date: 05/12/15

Posts: 7

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

I feel that Grace did the right thing, but was totally unprepared for consequences. I thought that was shallow on her part. Her character was rather vocal about how doctors feel about midwives, so you would think that someone who has been doing this so long, would have expected the problems afterwards.


Posted Jan. 02, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joyces

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 410

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

I am sure Grace did the right thing and felt she had no other choice though was a little surprised at the consequences.


Posted Jan. 03, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
MarieA

Join Date: 10/12/11

Posts: 256

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

Yes, I think Grace did the right thing.


Posted Jan. 03, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rosemarys

Join Date: 05/29/11

Posts: 43

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

I think midwives, as doctors, have to make some quick, very serious decisions. It seems that Grace had to use what knowledge she had and weigh the pros and cons of taking her patient to the hospital or to continue at home. With Neva assisting her, Grace had her second opinion and acted properly under the circumstances. She also had a pediatrician onhand to check the baby after the delivery.
The only part I didn't understand was Grace taking such a huge risk by continuing to deliver babies after she was on suspension. Was it a lack of respect for the powers that be in the medical field (as she distrusted all doctors,) or she had such a strong bond and commitment with her patients? I'm not sure.


Posted Jan. 05, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Retired Reader, NE

Join Date: 09/16/11

Posts: 165

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

She should have informed her patient about the vaginal tear. That was irresponsible. If Grace hadn't influenced her patients so negatively about hospitals, there might not have been such an issue.


Posted Jan. 05, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Peggy H

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 272

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

Yes, I felt she made the right decision, looking at the patients past experience. This was also a precursor to the birth of Neva's baby. In our society of suits against doctors, it was not surprising that questions were raised about Grace's choices.


Posted Jan. 06, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dorothyl

Join Date: 04/15/12

Posts: 146

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

I agree with Retired Reader that the patient should have been informed and that it was irresponsible.


Posted Jan. 08, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Beachgirl

Join Date: 01/06/16

Posts: 6

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

Yes I think she did the right thing. A vaginal tear wasn’t a life threatening situation. There was an experienced midwife present (Neva) and a pediatrician. The mothers horror of a hospital delivery was definitely considered in making this decision, and isn’t that why she chose to have her baby delivered by midwife in the first place? (the absolute definitive choice to NOT go to a hospital)


Posted Jan. 10, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sweeney

Join Date: 05/24/11

Posts: 185

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

I would have done exactly the same thing; however I think there are things that could have been done to better cover her bases...however, that would make a much less interesting story.


Posted Jan. 10, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
louisee

Join Date: 06/29/15

Posts: 143

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

I also think Grace did the right thing during the birth, she had Neva and a pediatrician. I think I would have done the same thing in her position. I also agree that Grace was irresponsible when she didn't let her patient make the decision about when to do the vaginal repair. Having the doctor file a complaint against Grace to the Nursing Board was a weak part of the book. I don't think the doctor had a legitimate claim against her.


Posted Jan. 10, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Lea Ann

Join Date: 04/20/11

Posts: 99

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

I believe Grace did the only thing open to her under the circumstances. Without her intervention both mom and baby, the baby most certainly,may have died. While the professional and personal risk to Grace herself was large, she was ready to sacrifice herself for the sake of her patient and that person's baby. My first child was a breech/forceps birth, but in 1954 and in a hospital. Because my labor was too advanced when I reached the hospital for a C section, he was born vaginally. I was not informed of the "rush" reason for the delivery and was out from ether (this was 1954, remember), so, while I wish some things had been done differently, I am grateful for the doctor who safely delivered by son. The dr. was a GP, by the way, not an OB dr.


Posted Jan. 13, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
PiperUp

Join Date: 10/27/15

Posts: 146

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

I agree that she should've informed the patient of the tear. That was irresponsible. I think she allowed her patient's fear of hospitals to cloud her judgement.


Posted Jan. 16, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
juliaa

Join Date: 12/03/11

Posts: 276

RE: Do you think Grace did the right thing during the birth? What would you have done in her position?

Medical professionals have to make judgement calls every day. Grace knew of her patient's horror at the thought of hospitals and did the right thing by allowing the home birth. However, the next step, when allowing the patient to accompany her newborn daughter to the hospital before the tear was sewn up was questionable and posed risk to the patient. Grace made the right decision emotionally, but legally she should have informed the patient of the danger. However, there was in the end no actual harm to the patient, and actual harm is one of the elements of negligence. So I wasn't too surprised by the Board of Nursing decisions after the investigation.


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