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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Midwives raise issue
about costs, availability of birthing
By Kim Baraona
Gwinnett Midwifery Associates with Maternal Gynerations
Special
to GwinnettForum.com
(Editor's note: Kim Baraona of Lawrenceville
is Georgia Legislative Liaison to the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
-eeb)
OCT. 28, 2003 -- Skyrocketing medical malpractice insurance rates
are destroying American obstetrical care by forcing qualified providers
(nurse-midwives, physicians, and nurses) out of practice, restricting
access to quality health care, and ultimately taking money out of
your pocket!
 Malpractice
insurance rates fo r certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) have risen
as much as 60 percent in the last year. The American College of
Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) is alarmed by the number of phone calls from
members who cannot afford or cannot get malpractice insurance, as
fewer carriers offer coverage or those that do massively increase
their rates. Physicians who collaborate with CNMs are being forced
to pay surcharges or told by their insurers to end their collaboration
with CNMs altogether.
This forces midwifery patients to see only physicians, increasing
physician workload, causing longer waiting periods to receive care,
and shorter visits with physicians once an appointment is secured.
Fewer obstetric providers in rural areas may force expectant mothers
to travel long distances to receive obstetric care at a time when
access to care is critical to the health and well being of both
mother and child.
ACNM is also receiving phone calls from students saying that skyrocketing
malpractice insurance rates, and their devastating effect on the
health care system, are discouraging them from pursuing careers
in nursing and midwifery. This dangerous trend may leave Americans
with an ever-shrinking pool of health care providers.
In many instances, malpractice lawsuits have turned into 'jackpot
lotteries," with much of the award money going to pay attorney's
fees or court costs, and not to the people who might require the
funds to pay for necessary care. These massive awards are forcing
many birth centers and hospitals to divert funds, intended for improvements
in facilities and quality of care, to pay rising malpractice insurance
premiums.
Jury payouts in Georgia have doubled in the last decade, driving
up malpractice insurance rates as insurers make up the cost of these
suits by charging health care providers higher premiums. To help
pay for these premiums, the cost of care rises. Employers either
shift the rise in premiums to employees or drop coverage altogether
leaving you with the bill.
You ultimately pay, either directly to the provider, as part of
publicly funded programs like Medicare or Medicaid, or to your insurance
company. At this moment, 41.2 million Americans are without health
insurance, including 11.5 million women of childbearing age.
Americans need our elected leaders to enact meaningful and comprehensive
medical malpractice reform to ensure timely access to affordable
health care. The U.S. House of Representatives passed medical malpractice
reform legislation in April and now the U.S. Senate must act to
avert this impending health care disaster. Please educate yourself
on this important subject and urge Senator Miller to vote FOR medical
malpractice reform by calling 1-800-366-0102.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Establishment
of Peace Academy could change world
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
OCT. 28, 2003 -- What's missing here?
- The United States Military Academy was founded in 1802.
- The United States Naval Academy was founded in 1845.
- The United States Coast Guard Academy was founded in 1876.
- The United States Merchant Marine Academy was founded in 1943.
- The United States Air Force Academy was founded in 1954.
This is no puzzle. Based on progression and reasonableness, what's
missing?
The war in Iraq has taught us what is missing: the United States
has no Peace Academy. The military forces of the United States conducted
the war against Iraq with dispatch, much more quickly than most
people thought possible.
Yet the aftermath of the war, the establishment of the peace, is
most elusive. More and more people are questioning if the United
States can easily and quickly find a way to extract itself from
this country which it is supposed to have conquered. Each day seems
to bring a new series of problems, skirmishes, clashes, explosions
and fighting. And it's far more costly than anyone ever imagined,
both in lives, and in dollars.
Yes, the military captured the country. Yet finding a way to prosecute
the peace is most difficult. What is needed are experts in peace,
not war-making, to be on the ground directing the bringing back
to reality of peaceful times to Iraq. We could also use a similar
expertise in Afghanistan.
The idea of a Peace Academy is not new. It dates back to the origin
of our country. For years a peace agency has been advocated by many,
from framers of our nation, to Woodrow Wilson, Mark Hatfield and
Jimmy Carter. President Ronald Reagan signed into law the creation
of the United States Institute of Peace in 1984, with its mission
"to support the development, transmission, and use of knowledge
to promote peace and curb violent international conflict."
But it has not achieved the status of a military academy, to graduate
specialists to forge peace in the world.
More recently, on July 11, 2001, Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio,
currently a presidential candidate, introduced legislation to create
a cabinet level agency dedicated to peacemaking. He wants a Department
of Peace, to focus on non-military peaceful conflict resolution.
So far, this has not passed Congress.
Yet the military quagmire in Iraq begs for the techniques that
a Peace Academy could train the nation's people to lead. It could
even be a training ground for diplomatic corps members, and develop
tactics yet unknown to help the cause of peace worldwide.
It could also serve as a welcoming academy to those who are opposed
in essence to war, yet would not mind serving their country toward
peaceful pursuits. Conscientious objectors would find a haven here,
and be able to contribute positively to their country.
After all, the techniques and methods of war that the Military,
Naval and Air Force Academies teach; the methods of defending our
shores that the Coast Guard maintains; and the many technologies
that the Merchant Marine employ...are far different from the techniques
and complexities of promoting peace in a troubled world.
If nothing more comes out of Iraq than the realization by our country
that the United States needs a national agency aimed at peace, it
will have been a most positive war.
The establishment of a full-fledged Peace Academy will takes years
to see results. But to delay is to ensure the continuation of the
quagmires we are seeing in Iraq.
The establishment of an United States Peace Academy is long overdue.
ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
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The family is the winner of the 2002 Georgia Family Business of
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FEEDBACK
10/28: Health forest
initiative is ploy in disguise
Editor, the Forum:
I believe that the Bush Administration's "Healthy Forests
Initiative" is merely a ploy to disguise the truth--that
President Bush is a champion for the timber industry. In a presidential
proclamation, Bush praised forests for the lumber, paper and
other wood products they provide. But National Forests also
provide clean water, fish and wildlife habitat and unrivaled
hiking, hunting and fishing opportunities. It's time for a wildfire
policy that provides funding to protect homes and communities
first, rather than a policy that increases logging under the
guise of fuels reduction.
-- Charmaine MacKenzie, Lawrenceville
10/28: Surprising that more cities do not call for impeachment
Editor, the Forum:
It is not surprising that the City of Santa Cruz, Calif. has
passed a resolution to ask Congress to impeach Bush & Co.
for "High Crimes and Misdemeanors." The reason given
is that President Bush violated international treaties, manipulated
public fears to justify war, and violated Constitutional Rights.
What is surprising is that other cities have not done the same.
Our states and cities are all cutting back on essential services
such as fire and police, schools, hospitals and emergency services
due to a lack of funds.
The cost of the invasion and occupation of Iraq equals approximately
$1,660 for every man, woman and child in this country. The invasion
would never have taken place if Congress and the people had
not been lied to about the imminent threat posed by Iraq, the
then non-existent connection to terrorism and Bin Laden, the
non-existent weapons of mass destruction, and the Iraqis' supposed
willingness to trade their oil for freedom.
Despite the fact that Bush knew that all of his justifications
for war were untrue, he continues to repeat them in every speech.
If we permit this Administration to continue their campaign
of imperialism, we will all pay dearly in many ways. It's time
to call for impeachment!
-- Charles Prendergast, Los Angeles, Calif.
CALENDAR
Button Gwinnett
Society to host novelist Terry Kay
Novelist Terry Kay will speak to the Button Gwinnett Society
at its November 12 meeting at the 1818 Club. The meeting will
begin at 6 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m.
The society is a group getting together to discuss ideas, about
books, the arts, society in general, and topics of major interest.
It meets quarterly, on the second Wednesday of February, May,
August and November. Membership is open and prospective members
are invited. Dues are $100 annually.
Mr. Kay, who formerly lived in Lilburn, has out a new novel
about fishing, "The Valley of Light." His other acclaimed
works include "To Dance with the White Dog," "The
Kidnapping of Aaron Greene," "Taking Lottie Home,"
"The Year the Lights Came On," and others. He currently
resides in Winterville, near Athens.
Copies of Mr. Kay's books will be available at the Society
meeting to purchase.
The 1818 club is located on the third floor of the Gwinnett
Chamber of Commerce, located at 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, which
is about a half mile west of the Sugarloaf exit on Interstate
85.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
What you need if
you are aiming for creativity
"Time becomes meaningless in the face of creativity."
-- Artist Fred Babb.
He also said: "Good art doesn't match your sofa." Contributed
by Terry Leonard, Birmingham, Ala.
What's your favorite saying? Share with others through
GwinnettForum. Send to elliott@gwinnettforum.com.
SEND
YOUR FEEDBACK
Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves
or comments on any issue to Gwinnett
Forum for future publication.
===========================================
MORE: Contact Gwinnett Forum at: elliott@gwinnettforum.com
© 2003, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum
is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett
County, Ga. USA.
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