So, I finally got tired of being ignored and called Dr. Torres as he apparently did not have the courtesy to return my e-mails and letters. He told me that members of the OB committee met last week and decided there was no need to have any meetings or discussion about making a breech delivery protocol. Although in September I was assured that I would have some input in the discussion, it did not happen. Since no one but me in the community offers breech deliveries, he states that I am outside of the "community standard" and elective breech deliveries would not be allowed. When I pointed out that Terry Cole also does breech deliveries he mumbled something about not caring what Dr. Cole does at Community Memorial Hospital down the road. When I asked if only one doctor in our department was doing a certain special surgical procedure would that, too, be outside the "community standard" and be banned? He had no honest answer. I received a letter later today reiterating our conversation and suggesting that I seek privileges at another institution if I wanted to do breeches. This is a disingenuous suggestion as changing hospitals is not a simple task. So while I am credentialed to perform breech deliveries at my hospitals and ACOG and SOGC support this option the administration has made a final decision not to allow this without any meeting, hearing or due process. A sad day for the women of Ventura County. I am looking at all options and am open to any suggestions. Dr. F
This is ridiculous and sad. I would have more respect if he just came out and admitted that he is afraid the hospital might have a bad outcome and might have to muddy its hands in a court case. Really... not a community standard? Ludicrous. It's sick that they have so much power that they can continue to make decisions like this. How is it that a few people can retain so much power? Where are the checks and balances? We have a similar "standard" in our hospital... breeches are simply NOT allowed. Neither are VBACs. Even if a woman comes in complete, they'll give terb and rush to the OR. I just don't get it...
ReplyDeleteThank you Harris' for your outrage. Knowing there are people like you who also see the malice and idiocy keeps me going. SJF
ReplyDeleteIs it a silly suggestion to throw out the idea of some sort of protest outside the hospital? Something to show our support for you and a woman's birthing rights? Has this been done or is it inappropriate? Keep up the good fight Dr!
ReplyDeleteMandy Schutt CBD, CPD
Hi Mandy, My experience tells me that if you could get the media (TV or newspaper) involved it would bother them. They do not like to be asked questions. They did not respond when a reporter from the Washington Post left several messages a few weeks ago. In a recent Ventura County Star article about declining local birth rates, the representative from the administration of my two hospitals was quoted as saying they have not noticed a drop in volume. This is patently false at Pleasant Valley Hospital. So, they cannot even tell the truth about something as benign and nonthreatening as that. It is something about the nature of people that administrate that prevents them from any honesty that somehow could be construed as looking bad. They do not care what I think, you think, midwives think or, for that matter, what any individual patients think. But they do care about their image. So, if you can come up with a way to honestly expose what they are doing it will make them very uncomfortable and possibly willing to have a discussion. There is little left they can do to me so please feel free to confront them any way you choose. You can count me in. SJF
ReplyDeleteThis doesn't make any sense. If there's no breech delivery protocol/policy, how can they say you can't do it? Either the hospital has a policy stating breech isn't allowed OR they have a policy stating it IS allowed. What is this BS about 'community standards'? Is going higher up an option? Contacting Dr. Torres's boss? This hospital needs to be exposed for their practices and failure to put women and babies first. Hope to see you at the BAC meeting at the end of the month.
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