Tension is rising among the midwives. They gathered in several Quebec cities on Sunday to denounce Bill 15, which they said would strip them of their autonomy by subjecting them to the authority of a doctor.
“We are ready to work with doctors,” said Amaili Jetté, vice-president of the Regroupement Les Sages-femmes du Québec (RSFQ). But when we place a profession into a hierarchy [par rapport à] another as provided for in Bill 15 […]It is neither more nor less the subordination of midwifery practice in Quebec to medical supervision, she argued on Radio-Canada.
Several dozen people gathered in front of Prime Minister François Legault’s office on Sherbrooke Street West in downtown Montreal in opposition to this bill, which proposes structural changes to the health care network.
Participants interviewed by Radio-Canada said they defend both the professional autonomy of midwives and the fundamental rights of birthing women.
I experienced three births accompanied by a midwife. “It is valuable support, unique support, unparalleled care,” Rosemai Beauregard-Langelier testified. She said she also benefited from free postpartum breastfeeding advice.
Another participant mentioned the case of her own mother, who had to give birth under general anesthesia in the 1980s, and suggested that the formalization of midwifery status has since then significantly improved support for pregnant women.
A service without hierarchy
In Quebec, the profession of midwife was only legalized in 1999 with the entry into force of the Midwifery Act. According to several protesters, Bill 15 would undermine the gains midwives have made by legalizing their profession.
This puts midwives under medical supervision, which is not desirable at all.
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Amaili Jetté, vice-president of the Regroupement Les Sages-femmes du Québec (RSFQ)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Florence Pular
Since then, various mechanisms have been put in place to protect the autonomy of midwives, but Bill 15 would abolish them, Ms. Landry regrets.
There is the Council of Midwives, which was abolished in favor of merging with the Council of Doctors, Dentists, Pharmacists and Midwives [dans le projet de loi 15], and midwives are in the minority on that committee, Ms. Landry told The Canadian Press. This is a committee in which the majority of doctors sit, including Amaili Jetté from the RSFQ, who fears that the decision-making power of her profession will be restricted.
There is currently no hierarchy in midwifery services. The bill would disrupt that operation, particularly by introducing a new role of “head of department” under the authority of a medical director. The feared consequences? Families risk no longer being able to make informed decisions about their place of birth or the rules of care for their post-pregnancy care, argue the organizers of the “Touche pas à nos Deliveries” event on social networks.
Our demand to the government is clear: we want it to step down on Bill 15 and protect the professional autonomy of midwives […] “This bill,” Sarah Landry summarized.
In an email to Radio-Canada, Health Minister Christian Dubé’s office denied having wanted this [toucher] to their professional autonomy.
With Santé Québec, we hope that all health professionals can work together and no longer remain isolated. [vase clos], argued the ministry. As an example, he cited an article in the new draft law that states that midwives will in future be able to admit and discharge people from hospitals without seeing a doctor.
“We continue to work to resolve the situation quickly so that midwives can prescribe the abortion pill,” Minister Dubé’s office added. Our intention is clear: all midwives must maintain their professional autonomy in order to provide health services. We will never compromise.
Representatives excluded
Protesters criticized the Legault government for not inviting the Regroupement Les Sages-femmes du Québec to a parliamentary committee to discuss the bill. According to Caroline Senneville, president of the CSN, Sunday’s demonstration was organized when the amendments proposed by its members were all rejected by the government.
The Federation of Professionals also organized meetings on Sunday that brought together dozens of people [sic] (FP-CSN) in Quebec, Sherbrooke, Gatineau, Gaspé and Carleton-sur-Mer.
With information from Gabrielle Proulx and The Canadian Press