6 - Friday, August 8, 1986 - North Shore News

News Viewpoint

Viidwife struggie

(rial began this week in) Vancouver which

promises to pit many in the established medical

community against the age-old practice of
midwifery.

The case is the first of its kind in Canada, involving
two midwives charged with criminal negligence causing
death.

Unlike the United States and Great Britian, the
practice of midwifery is illegal in Canada.

But that hasn’t stopped women from choosing a
midwife to assist them in a home delivery, or to act as
‘labor coaches” in the hospital,

Supporters of midwifery argue doctors are there on-
ly during the active stage of fabor, unlike midwives
who support women in all stages of labor.

But there are difficulties with midwifery due to its
current legal position. Because midwifery cannet be
practised in the open, many women give birth at home,
with a midwife who isn’t responsible to any profes-
sional regulating body.

Many tragedies could be avoided, such as the current
legal battle, if only Canada would recognize the value
of midwives and legalize the practice. This would
enable midwives to be trained through a recognized
program.

Only then can midwifery come out of the closet.

if more hospitals follow Grace Hospital’s example,
where midwives are a vitai part of the obstetrics team,
more women would perhaps opt for a hospital birth
where life-saving equipment is on hand, should the
need arise.

|Accuracy |

pieasing
to the

Dear Editor:

I was intrigued by a recent letter
by Ms. Anne K. Marsh (May 30)
pertaining to the use of the word
“anyways’’.

{ wondered if her letter was a
clever satire on general abuse of
the English language or a genuine
but failed attempt at decent cor-
respondence.

Believing the former to be the
case, | was moved to commend her
on her unique style and construc-
tion, and, in particular, her
placement of the preposition
“about” at the end of her opening
sentence, It was a nice touch,

Naturally, 1 agree with Ms.
Marsh fully. Such desecration of
our mother tongue is inexcusable,

With all certainty = reporters
and/or editors should transform
verbal colloquialisms into flawless
prose. What good is accuracy if it
is not pleasing to che ear?

Thank you, Ms. March, for tak-
ing a stand against the North
Shore News for this most heinous
crime. The fact that your [etter was
printed clearly indicates how slack
these editors are,

Katie Shechan
North Vancouver

Dear Editor:
Your editorial of Friday, July 11
(an *tanalysis’’ of my hunger strike

THL VOICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANDOUVER:
. ry ae

SUNDAY »- WEDNESDAY +
1139 Lonsdale Ave.
North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4

ely

57.656 ore cae vee

and give validity to your refusal to
meet with me in person. Bold as a
lion in print, you refuse to defend

Peter Speck
Noet Wught
Barrett richer
Linda Stewart

et be

Publisher:
Editor-in-Chief
Managing Editor
Advertising Director

Display Advertising 980-0511
Classitied Advertising 986-6222
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North Shore News. *

intre contents

19R6 North Shore

Free Prass Lid Alt
S NGhiC rescived

AND NOW THE
RESULTS OF THE
FINAL BALLOT...

Hunger striker chastises News

for a fall. To verify this, all you
need do is cousult your political
kin — particularly Jim Nielsen,

lengthy phone conversation, that
his immediate cause would be bet-
ter served) by our printing his

against the murder of the handi- your prevarication in person.
capped) was inaccurate beyond the
point of accidental ignorance.
However, | have no wish at this
time to rebut it point by point, To
do so woud bestow credibility
upon your leadership of the News

B.C. LAW FLAUNTED

Consider, sir, that a newspaper
that condones such sinister, ex-
tremist causes as abortion,
euthanasia and murder of the
handicapped is most likely headed

rebuttal to our editorial. The News
dows not ‘‘condone"’’ abortion,
euthanasia or “‘murder’’ of the
handicapped, but suggests that
decisions in individual cases, and
within the law, are a matter for
those most deeply invelved.)

G. McGuire
North Vancouver

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The News

did not ‘refuse’ to meet with Mr.
McGuire but pointed out, in a

rongocoers

OPEN LE
ATTORNEY-

TER TO
RAL OF B.C.

I noted fon recent TY news) that makers of radar detectors are revell-
ing over the ‘ever increasing’ sales of their product here in B.C,

} wonder just what police thoughts might be on the matter? No, correct
that, for I really have to know precisely their feelings on the matter.
Feelings of being let down,

I served for a number of years in the British police service. It was
unlawful then for anyone to, in any way, obstruct police in the perfor-
mance of their duties. Such has still to be the case today and certainly
here too in this province it must be sa,

Why, then Mr. Attorney-General do you continue to permit the sale af
these items? Why do you assist wrongdoers to flaunt the law? Why do
you permit police ofticers to be scorned and titerally be made fools of?
Why do you grossly waste taxpayers” monies?

Or have J somewhere got the duties of an attorney-general confused in
my mind thus giving me these very pointed questions ... questions that I
would like an answer to.

We taxpayers pay for police service, [1 does not come cheap. So we pay
for those officers sitting in curs at roadsides frustratingly and increasing-
ly obstructed in the performance of the specific job they have been
ordered there to perform.

So why bother with radar at ail? Why not simply deregulate the roads
completely and be done with it?

You are permitting speeders (a high percentage of drivers!) to flaunt

the law, so quit wasting taxpayers’ money ... quit making fools of police
officers — they assuredly did not take on such an onerous occupation to
be denied the backing of the attorney-general in the performance of even
one part of their job.

I trust you are not so naive as to accept the lop-sided arguments of
manufacturers and sellers of the detectors when they claim that their
product) encourages more responsible driving. Never has so much
bullplop been deposited.

No one but an inveterate speeder buys such a device ... absolutcty no
one. A law-abiding driver never has to be forever on the laokgut for a
police car whether in front or behind or anywnere.

What a truly imbecilic situation! So rypical of today's ‘justice’ fiasco. |
vean’tin all truth call it a system. More than ever today the law is indeed
anass!

It is time you acted with the responsibility that our position demands.
Time for you to take note that some other province and U.S. states ban
the sale and use of these impotence creating items. Such areas have
awakened to what is, after all, just simple common sense leaving apart
the specifies that | have referred to above.

Wi B.C. hold out to the last in removing something so grossly inept?
fs it too much to hope that our governing body will enact something log-
ical in this situation? Initiate action — now!

You owe it to our police service. To all responsible road users. To one
and all, period, as laxpavers.

You also owe it to simple sanity Mr. Attorney-General.

A.B, Griffin
North Vancouver