Sane and Humane ED. NOTE. On March 21 the Supreme Court of Canada cleared two Vancouver midwives of criminal negligence In a home birth they attended six years ago. The baby was stillborn, which led lo charges being laid. The Court ruled In effect that legal rights begin at birth. The stale bas an Interest in protecting fetuses, but they do not enjoy the rights that people do. Midwifery supporters had mixed reactions, because the two midwives do not belong lo the Midwives Association of B.C. and were using practices considered risky by that association. The current status of midwifery In B.C. is simple: it's illegal (whether the birth proceeds smoothly or not). Even doctors attending a homebirth can be disciplined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons. But B.C. midwives are lobbying strongly for recognitio-n under the B.C. Health Practitioners Act, which would ensure that midwives would be trained and qualified. Susan B. Ferguson is a pseudonym adopted by the writer of the following commen- tary to protect her doctor. by Susan B. Ferguson Hurray! the midwives have been acquitted. No, I am not insensitive to the death of the baby involved, but in general I believe midwifery to be both safer and more humane. "Are you sure it is wise, dear?" "Can't you put the safety of your baby first?" "Why in heaven's name would you want to do that? I want all the drugs I can get for that kind of pain." So many well-meaning and caring people around me tried to dissuade me from having a home birth. But being one of the less per- suadable human beings ever, the words had little effect. I wanted to be an active participant in this life event. I knew my midwives had practised in a collective of four for ten ye~s and were ?oth qualified and dedicated. During regular ap- pomtments we did the usual battery of tests (urine analysis, blood , pressure, weighing, prodding and measuring). We discussed nutri- tion and emotional well-being. My husband and I attended their eve- ning classes. This was quality care. Labour itself wasn't bad compared to what I'd imagined (grant- ed, I have a pretty horrendous imagination). Massage, hot hot show- the institutions' own fundraising, ers with my husband and walking through contractions definitely helped. And steaming hot cloths on the perinea! area felt heavenly. Arts Funding private foundations and A Turn to the municipal and regional govern- But the treasure of the home birth, for me, was the calm, the quiet. I had my sister and my husband in addition to two midwives. Facts ments. Right? We had a calm, family event that felt fully human. Dear Editor: In many of our communities, Dear Editor: In last week's Express Suzy fmancially hard-pressed and I'm shocked to see the After the birth the midwives did the minimum necessary before Hamilton attacked provincial perhaps not fully aware of the editorial staff of Kootenay Ex- allowing us time alone. My sister went to warm up the homemade secretary Howard Dirks' closure growing desire of citizens for full press, of all people, endorse the chicken soup. Our new little baby lay between mother and father in the dusky light. of the Emily Carr Art Gallery. services in the arts, this local concept that if your readers ask As quoted in her article, the Nel- support is not forthcoming or at you to not print offensive The rewards of having our baby at home were not only those son and District Arts Council least is not sufficient to fund humour, well gee, guess we can't private, quiet moments after the birth, but my feeling of pride at having taken responsibility. I appreciated both the help of my whole wrote to protest the closure and bare- bones operations. print any humour at all. Have we to ask that the proposal for the In the entire West Kootney, taken a turn to the right here or team and the technology that had been used to assess safety factors Victoria Art Gallery to take over there are only two full-time paid what? and allow this birth to occur naturally and at home. Labour did not happen to me but through me because of the its operation be considered. We arts administrators (Capitol To recap: In the Valentine's too deplore the fact that the Theatre and National Exhibition theme Express, the author of the mental and physical preparations I had chosen to made. Most of all I works of B.C.'s best-known Centre) despite the fact we have Enoch letter was trying to make appreciated the opportunity to confront fear and pain, and become painter face the possibility of not at least nine museums, two humour out of a very common stronger through the process. being seen in her own home city. theatres, five year-round art gal- emotional dilemma: falling in However, -Ms. Hamilton leries, four summer-long art gal- love with someone who doesn't EXPRESS yourself! We invite you to send your commentaries.Please raised the issue of arts funding love you back and trying every- limit your opinion to :iOOwords an~ include your name,address and by comparing the hundreds of leries, and two summer schools. phonenumber.Yourpiecemay be editedfor grammarand clarity. We called Mr. Dirks "a thing in the world to manipulate thousands of dollars available friend to the arts in Nelson" in that person's feelings. for golf courses and our tramway our letter. Through his support Most of us have indeed ~ THE KOOTENAY WEEKLY p Q 10 project as compared to the teens we've been able to crisis manage done that. So great, use humour .LiXPKESS 1:~~6~~~t1~~lcl1~ 554 Ward St., P.O. Box 922, Nelson, B.C., VlL 6A5 of thousands available f9r the arts. to some extent by obtaining employment grants. as a healthy way to let go of trying to make anybody else feel This is unfortunately a com- However, this is not a long- something they don't feel. 11,!91 Can~a Post mailed; 4,209 in hotel rooms, Castlegar parison of apples with oranges. But, the fine edge of irony airport, Ainsworth, and hundreds of other pi,ek-up points. term solution. We need to move In the arts, as with golf courses, toward a consistent and com- that should have been in the PUBLISHER: Nelson Becker, ADMINISTRATION: H. J. Hutchinson EDITOR: Donna Macdonald, ASSISTANT EDITOR: Suzy Hamilton there's not much difficulty in ob- prehensive solution to the prob- Enoch letter wasn't. Instead of PRODUCTION: Jacqueline Cameron, Nick Smirnow taining capital expenditure lem of arts funding. As the laughing at and with him, I felt ART WORK: Anne DeGrace, ADVERTISING: Peter Banfield monies through programs such demand for services increases, sorry for the woman being OFFICE HOURS: Monday to Friday, 10am t.o 4pm. asGOB.C. the problem will only increase as pestered by such an egocentric The problem is with opera- well. jerk. The piece was also rampant ON THE COVER - photo by Suzy Hamilton tional monies. For day-to-day with the chauvinism that Leigh Dennis Zomerschoe April 3, 1991, Volume 3, Number 19 ISSN 0840-965X operations (rents, salaries of Pres., Nelson & District Simms pointed out. Maybe you Copyright © 1991, Nelson Becker directors, utilities, insurance) the were trying to poke fun at male Opinwns expressed in THE KOOTENAY WEEKLY EXPRESS Arts Council are not necessarily those of the publisher or any of our advertisers. province is willing to pay a share, Letters Cont. on Page 5 but wants to be a partner with .--..tree------.----r- a Q. What entertainer would you like to see come to Nelson for Music •91 ■ , Kate and Anna McGarrigle. (Canadian folksingers) WENDY SCHWAB ltzak Perlman. (classical violinist) JACK RODDIS Two Live Crew. (rap artists) MIKE WEAVER,DALE FENIUK HAVE A QUESTION YOU'D LIKE US TO ASK? SEND IT. MAIL YOUR QUESTION TO STREET TALK, C/0 The Kootenay Weekly Express, BOX 922, NELSON, B.C. VlL 6A5 Page 4 THE KOOTENAY WEEKLY EXPRESS APRIL 3, 1991