Midwife Autonomy Endangered by MANA President Sarita Bennett

Does this person not know the HISTORY of autonomy, the debates we've had? Doctor supervision? Get a grip!

As I founding member of Mana & RN/CPM I oppose the current President’s position- I support the removal of her from the Presidency ! 303-881-4848

As a former MANA President I am clear that the role of the President—or any President of a 501(c)3 organization—is to ensure that the organization's activities are compliant and in furtherance of its Mission and Vision. Further, it is the duty of the President and Board of Directors to support the organization’s Core Values and Ethical Principles. From what I know of the situation, and from an in-depth understanding of MANA’s stated values and ethics, I am deeply concerned that the President has strayed from her fiduciary responsibility, and the Board of Directors appears to be complicit. It would be in the best interest of MANA’s mission for the Dr. Sarita Bennett to resign. In addition, as a long-standing MANA member I am asking that the Board of Directors follow the organizational bylaws by instituting immediate formal elections. Very few of MANA’s Board of Directors, including the current President and other officers, have been duly elected by MANA members. The organization needs a serious reset, and this is the place to start. In peace & solidarity, Gera

This is unacceptable that someone who is in leadership in MANA, who is supposed to be supporting the autonomy of midwives, is instead sabotaging them. She sounded very spiteful and she came right out and told them she's talking to a lot of other doctors to hurt the practicing midwives. She admitted she is not a practicing midwife, either. Completely unacceptable, she needs to resign. I am familiar with some of the midwives in VA and they are very good at what they do and have had very good outcomes. The ones I know are very professional and knowledgeable, skilled midwives, some who serve in under-served areas where there is not a hospital with L&D for an hour's drive.

Autonomy is essential to midwifery. Midwifery is essential to supporting physiological birth.

LM, CPM

As a midwife of 16 years in many states i would ask that the current president be removed immediately due to a lack of common goals amongst midwives. We need a president who is midwife minded, not medically demanding.

I know several people that have lost babies with Sarita (many more than is normal for an out of hospital practice) and she is a known danger in the VA community. All of the complaints she cites being filed against her by doctors and then midwives are valid and it's a shame they have gone nowhere. This is simply her power grab and she needs to not only resign from the board but it needs to be known what a danger she is so families can make an informed choice.

Whittney Speed: Bodily autonomy is a basic human right that includes absolute discretion in a birth attendant. This is about the birthing mother having a full range of choices. Narrowing “allowed practice” does not protect mothers, it punishes them by denying them the right to choose how and with whom they birth. If we want our midwives physician backed, we can choose providers that offer that. If we prefer the autonomy that comes with an independent provider, we can choose that. The idea that incompetence in a few members of a profession means we all get punished is insane. But if it were not, obstetric physicians would be in serious trouble.

Victoria Stickelmeyer Garwood: This woman needs to be discharged IMMEDIATELY from her position! I will NOT participate in ir be associated with any organization stifling the autonomy of Midwives who practice I. The commu ni city environment. You sill be hearing from me.

Victoria Kelson: I wholeheartedly believe midwives must maintain autonomy. Thank you to all those fighting for us to continue to have the right to practice independently.

Vickie Sorensen: Traditional, unlicensed, independent midwife for 35 uears

Tuesday Lach: This is a travesty! How someone like this rose to the position of President of this organization is shocking

Tracy Edwards: This is an outrage and takes midwifery practice backwards, not forwards!

Tanya Wills: Midwives are autonomous and should continue to practice to the fullest extent of their scope of practice. The data all support this. Please replace with someone who supports midwifery.

Susan DiNatale: What drugs is she in now! Stupid!

Stephanie Bragg: Unbelievable.

Stellarae Valdez: Please do not allow this monopoly of control.

Shannon Anton: We must also consider the harm caused by undermining informed choice of care provider by people seeking acceptable healthcare.

Sarah Simmons: This is truly appalling! Traditional independent midwives are the drivers in protecting patient autonomy reducing health disparities and providing critical access to care.