Doctors’ maternity care is comprehensive

Re Historic victory for Ontario midwives, Sept. 25

As a family physician and maternity care provider for more than 17 years, I work and collaborate with midwives regularly.

I was struck, however, when I read the following quote in the Star article on the Ontario midwives pay equity case:

“What makes the position of the (Ministry of Health) more difficult to accept is that it promotes family physicians and midwives as comparable obstetrical providers, equally competent to care for women with normal pregnancies.”

This quote, pulled from a 90-page decision and unfortunately used out of context, has the potential to perpetuate a lack of understanding and respect for the work of family physicians across Canada.

Family physicians who provide maternity care are skilled medical professionals who have at least 10 years of post-secondary training. We routinely work 24-hour shifts (or longer) and often come in for our own patients’ births, even when not on call.

Family doctors are in a unique position to provide comprehensive care that can avoid the need for multiple referrals to specialists.

By providing quality maternity care to women and their families while managing their chronic conditions and understanding their emotional needs, we bring value to the patients, families and communities we serve, as well as to the health-care system.

Our patients know this, and there are ample data to support this.

We need to spread the word better.

Dr. Milena Forte, department of family and community medicine, University of Toronto