Posted by jehovahinfo on April 22, 2008 at 1 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Jehovah's Witnesses complex,blood issue at a glance:

The Watchtower leadership of the Jehovah's Witnesses say no blood,but they actually DO ALLOW some blood "fractions".

Problem is this variance is so esoteric complicated that by the time special elders appear in the ER with the rule book, the JW patient is at the point of no return,bleeding to death.

NOW,they blame the hospital staff for not having a "cell saver" machine instead of the Watchtower leaders who are responsible for making the rules.

I myself endured the Watchtower's no blood commandment with longstanding bleeding Crohn's disease.The Watchtower leadership expects followers to die for their dogma and many have.The medical staff get blamed and are 'damned if they do damned if they don't'.
In 20 years there will be artificial blood for anyone who chooses it,putting an end to this drama.
I am Danny Haszard a real lifelong born 1957 3rd gen JW with a scary 28 year chronic bleeding disease who "took his stand on blood" and refused it countless times

http://www.ajwrb.org/ Jehovah Witness blood policy reform site
http://www.towertotruth.net/Articles/... Will you die for a lie?

Posted by JJones on April 22, 2008 at 4:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I have no knowledge regarding this specific midwife, but Jehovah's Witnesses as a group have been one of midwifery's biggest supporters over the decades for the simple reason that many midwifes cooperate with the Jehovah's Witnesses in their refusal of blood transfusions needed by dying newborns and mothers. Simply put, hospitals and doctors will seek judicial intervention to save the dying children of Jehovah's Witnesses, while many if not most midwifes conspire with the JW Parents in allowing the babies to die.

This issue is discussed at the following website which summarizes over 550 U.S. court cases and lawsuits affecting children of Jehovah's Witness Parents, including 375 cases where the JW Parents refused to consent to life-saving blood transfusions for their dying children:

DIVORCE, BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL ISSUES AFFECTING CHILDREN OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

http://jwdivorces.bravehost.com

Posted by kosmoz13 on April 22, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

There have been three successful birth centers in Southern California, that i know of off hand, that were forced to close because of pressure from the state medical board. This one- The Whole Woman Center operated by Marcia McCully in Simi Valley another midwife Rasmia Tebo also ran a wonderful medi-cal accepting center off Madera in Simi where i birthed my son. Connie Rock in Hollywood is another midwife that owned a amazing center/community of women, she was also forced to close by the medical board. Connie helped me birth my daughter in my home. These women are highly trained and skilled midwives. The doctors at Simi Valley hospital are very quick to file complaints with the medical board over midwife negligence. These women have doctors reviewing and critiquing their charts and procedures with a magnifying glass. I cant help but wonder how they'd fair if someone was giving them such critical examination. If we compare statistics of these midwives against the statistics of some medical doctors in the neighboring hospitals, I wonder how they'd compare. C Section rates, mortality, ect. I know there were national stats released on a study recently and overall birth centers had a much higher natural birth rate than hospitals.
If a client refuses to be transferred to the hospital, I suppose i would call an EMT in to the center that I would have already arranged to be oncall. I don't know what Mrs. McCully's specific errors or what she's being charged with exactly, i don't know the whole story. But I bet she was providing the best care anyone could provide. It will be a shame to loose another birth center, there are so few that remain.

Posted by kosmoz13 on April 22, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

cfmidwifery.org/pdf/cesarean2x.pdf
cdc.gov/nchs/PRESSROOM/98news/midwife.htm

some statistics for the sake of discussion.

Posted by TiquisiaPrincess on April 22, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I could be wrong, but it is my understanding that to be considered a TRUE "Christian", you must accept "Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior" of your life. Now, I went on the website that: jehovahinfo, suggested on his comment, and here they call Jeohova Witnesses, "Christians", but they do not belief the Christian Doctrine, so then what they say can be considered a lie.

As for this artical with the midwife, if she did commit the wrong doing, then, so be it. But if she didn't, judging her is incorrect. I belief midwife's have done a fantastic job in the past and present. I'm sure that these six cases she is being judged on have merit, but I'm curious as to how many births she's assisted in that were successful.

Posted by t.eden on April 22, 2008 at 11:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Traditional medicine is quick to condemn Midwives and Homebirth or birthing centers. Everyone seems to have forgotten that non risk childbirth is not a disease but a natural function. When my first child was born, 30 years ago, I took an intense study course from a 'childbirth at home' organization and had a wonderful midwife, she recognized that the birth was taking too long and we went to the (pre-arranged) hospital and had my healthy baby girl there. Would I have had a healthy baby if I would have stayed at home? Maybe, it was just not worth taking that risk. Two years later I birthed my second daughter at home, again with a midwife. The point I am trying to make is this: Homebirth is a wonderful and natural process that can be done at home with the right education, support, guidance and backup plan. However, if complications arise, the midwife should already have the agreement with the mother and backup lined up with a hospital so that when the need arises the hospital will take over. I do not know this midwife, but it sounds to me that the mother refused to go to the hospital, which makes her just as guilty of the bad outcome if not more, than the midwife. To the midwife, I wish you strenght. Usually we only hear about midwives when something goes wrong, however there are many healthy babies born each year in a loving and safe home environment with well educated parents and midwives attending. For the record, I did have pre natal care from a licensed OB\GYN for both daughters. The key is to be responsible and educated.

Posted by Jillyannbean on April 23, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This article leaves out many important facts. There is a huge backdrop to this story. Don't believe this article at face value. Ms. McCulley did not "give up her ability to act as a midwife." She was forced out by exorbitant legal fees. Do any of you have $100,000. sitting around to fight unfair charges? It is naive to think that she can deny the charges and file a lie suit for those who were in the wrong. The legal system protects big business, not the small-time midwives. Marcia certainly was not into midwifery for the money. Another thing not mentioned in the article is that not one of the women who were transferred to the hospital (which is the ethical thing to do if a patient has unexpected problems) have filed any actions against Marcia. In fact, one of them refused to sign the lies that were written up by the OB's at the hospital. There is a long-standing history of the OB's being jealous and contentious of Marcia's work with women. Of course that is not mentioned. OB's have the big money, midwives do not. As Marcia indicated in the article, it was all about telling lies and about the money. No one's safety needed to be protected as the article states. In fact, when Marcia was arrested, it was part of a ploy to try and make criminal charges stick. The article did not mention that one of the officers who entered her birthing facility (where an infant, new mother and father and another patient were waiting) had his gun drawn. What kind of craziness is that? Marcia saved me (and many others like me) from being FORCED to consent to a C-section. Yes, FORCED! More women and babies die and have complications from C-sections than from vaginal births or Vaginal Births After C-sections (VBAC). OB's won't tell you that. We rank 2nd to last in industrialized nations in maternal and fetal outcomes. We are sectioning over 1/3 of all pregnant women. Now that's scary. OB's don't want competition and want to be able to force or coerce women into unnecessary surgery (major abdominal surgery that has many more complications than a vaginal delivery and nets more money). I gave birth to a 10 lb baby with Marcia who, along with her assistant provided me with loving care. Do your homework, look at the research, most OB's are NOT giving patients the full picture and thus they are not being given truly informed consent. It is very scary what OB's are doing to pregnant women. Be informed. Read articles by Marsden Wagner (an OB who has taken on the obsterical community for selling out). Check out the International Cesarean Awareness web-site. Empower yourself! No one else can do it for you and if you think your OB is on your side, think again. He or she is protecing their own liability. It is not a labor of love for them for most of them. Birthing a baby is an amazing, life-altering experience, if it is done with love, care, time and support AND the truth!

Posted by chaplinej on April 24, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Marcia McCulley is a GREAT MIDWIFE!!! She did nothing wrong. Government agencies are not protecting our (the people's) welfare, but rather their own jobs and the businesses and unions that support them. Ventura County is extremely behind in their birthing practices, refusing VBAC's when more progressive parts of the United States allow and encourage them. I had two successful VBAC's before relocating to SoCal only to find out that I would be FORCED to have a C-section in Ventura county because my first birth (twins) was a C-section even though I subsequently had two successful VBAC's in North Carolina. The practice I went to in the RTP area of NC had OB's with 3 midwives on staff. An OB delivered my first VBAC; he only showed up to literally catch the baby and the next birth was attended by one of the midwives who stayed through my entire birthing process. Marcia delivered my son who was 9lb 2.5oz. It was an amazing experience. I had to do my research to get the birth I wanted. This was just as true in NC as in SoCal. I just had more options in NC than I do here in SoCal. Women, we need to stand up for our rights for our children and our families and make the best choices for ourselves. Birthing should be my choice and not governed by an establishment. I cannot imagine being forced into an unnecessary medical procedure, but this is happening everyday in these United States. Do not allow yourself to be manipulated by fear. EDUCATE YOURSELF or suffer the consequences!!!!

Posted by lou on April 26, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Marcia was my midwife. I labored for 52 hours before I made the decision to be transfered to hospital. I then suffered a complicated C section. The surgeon told me that there was NO WAY my baby was ever going to be delivered vaginally. He also told me both my son and I were lucky to alive. My water broke at home on Sunday night. My baby came on Wednesday. I don't know what Marcia was thinking all that time. To be honest I didn't see that much of her as she seemed to give up on me. I spent most of my time laboring with her wonderful assistant, Mary. Marcia made no attempt to transfer me to the hospital, other than an idle threat after a few hours of labour which she told my husband was 'just to get me going'. . It turned out that when I made the call to go to the hospital she sent us to one 40 minutes away. Her reasons at the time were baffling. She told us there was no anaesiologist at Simi hospital and that we would not get good care there. We later found out that she was banned from Simi. She also REFUSED to call an ambulance and insisted that my husband drive 40 minutes to West Hills at midnight. Marcia administered drugs to me which she was not licensed to do. She then asked my husband to lie about this when he got to the hospital in order to protect her. She changed my notes and suggested my water broke 24 hours later than it actually did. For whose benefit did she change the notes and lie about the drugs? It certainly wasn't for mine or my baby's. She didn't come to the hospital with us because she was tired......
When there are no complications it seems Marcia is a great midwife. So many couples are happy with her. But surely the MOST important part of her job is to recognise problems and make necessary referrals. She later told my husband that the reason I was unable to birth my son was because 'I was lazy' and I 'was pushing wrong'. I trusted Marcia with the precious thing in the world - my baby - and she let us down. Please consider this. It is the most natural thing in the world to have a baby. It's knowing what to do when it goes wrong. When lives are in danger. That is the skill of a midwife. Marcia is clearly great when there are no complications but she is dangerous when there are. Marcia, has to accept that she is, unfortunately, not a good midwife. I'm sorry that she must have suffered in this ordeal but I'm relieved that she can no longer practice.

Posted by jcsmom920 on May 5, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Marcia McCulley was my midwife when I delivered my second child, a son, in 2005. She is absolutely a fabulous medical professional and now that I am pregnant with another baby, I am devastated that I will not be able to deliver this baby with Marcia. My son was a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and not only was Marcia supportive of my childbirth choice, she is THE reason that I was able to deliver him vaginally. There are not many options open to moms wanting a VBAC - and usually the only option is to choose the "best" of a dozen bad options. Marcia helped me prepare emotionally as well as physically and was awesome. I was in labor for 40 hours- she was there the whole time- she was upbeat, confident and supportive - best of all, she never let her faith in my ability to give birth waiver. By the time my son arrived, all of my birth team (husband, mother, assistant) and even I had doubted I would be able to VBAC but Marcia knew I could. I have never in my life felt as empowered and jubilant and thrilled as the moment when I pushed my son out into the world. Marcia's belief in me and in my body's ability to do what it was designed for is the reason - the ONLY reason - I was able to accomplish that. I am saddened and disheartened to know that other women in Southern California are now without her guidance, wisdom and confidence in thier ability to birth as they choose. Unfortunately, they will now be forced to go to places like Simi Valley Hospital or Antelope Valley Hospital (both with VBAC bans in place) where they will be told that they are no longer able to birth successfully because they have a scar on their uterus. They will be forced to endure a repeat c/s - a completely unnecessary procedure for most women- because the doctors at those hospitals and the mainstream medical community sees birth as a disease that needs fixing instead of what it actually is- the reason a woman's body was created. I am sad that those women will believe they have no other option than to give in to the regulations hospitals have imposed from fear of malpractice suits, the seemingly overwhelming "God complex" so many doctors develop and the way that it seems that birth has become something to be scheduled for everyone's "convenience". Birth is NOT convenient and not meant to scheduled - it is a natural event that has its own rhythms and timetable. There is a reason it is called "labor" and that's because it's hard work. It's also the most fulfilling, amazing and fabulous work a woman will ever do. And women have lost a great caregiver and supporter with Marcia's wrongful suspension.