From: Gloria Lemay <gloria_lemay@...>

Advanced Online Doula
Training at BirthLove.com:

The schedule of modules is:
Dec--Nutrition for Excellence
Jan 2003--Induction Epidemic
Feb--Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
Mar--Medical Terminology
Apr--Water birth, Lotus Birth
May--Pediatric Exam of the Newborn
June--Prenatal Diagnostic Tests, Genetics
July--Pregnancy Induced Hypertension
Aug--Gestational Diabetes
Sept--Business, Promotion, Professionalism
Oct--Well Woman Check up

Gloria Lemay
http://www.birthlove.com/glo_doula.html

Leilah McCracken
http://www.birthlove.com

** I am wondering if this program is appropriate for Doulas as we are
not medical personnel and should not give medical advice. I say this
since I have seen the current module information about herbal
supplements and other (treatments) to reduce or prevent herpes out
break during pregnancy/labor. It suggests we as Doulas educate our
clients about these methods but it is a gray area of the law/medicine
where education becomes providing treatment and not suggestions for
options. I feel if we truly want our status as Doulas to be
recognized we need to remain in that capacity/role!

Leave those herbal remedies and treatment options to the Midwifes and
Physicians, we are talking about a medical condition that needs to be
managed medically, we can as Doulas keep abreast of the options but
when we actually prescribe to our clients one of these remedies we
have crossed the line as an advocate/educator to a medical
practioner. Looking at other modules in this program, I am wondering
when a Doula will actually do a Pediatric Exam of the Newborn or a
Well Woman Check up? It seems that we are assuming roles outside our
realm, if a Doula takes this course and then provides these services
beyond educating about what these modules teach us as a Doula. It is
risky both legally and to our clients, to think that with a single
course we have become prepared to offer medical advice and/or
treatments to our clients.

This is taken directly from their advertisement for this course; "The
subject for November is Herpes Simplex II. If you had a
client who told you that she is free of herpes simplex II
and her husband has frequent outbreaks, what would your
advice be? What supplements, natural remedies, and course of
action would protect her baby? What danger could befall her
baby? What will her medical people be watching for?"

I see the words of "course of action" as a way to say TREATMENT and
as Doulas we don not provide medical treatments! It is not within our
scope of practice to prescribe an herbal remedy or a treatment. Even
as a Nurse, I cannot do that! I can design a Plan of care but it has
to be approved by a physician! Its called practicing medicine without
a license at best and at worst negligence both of which we can be
criminally and civilly liable for if by fate a complication arises
and results in morbidity or mortality. CYA (cover your assets), that
is what I was taught and practice as a Nurse and as a Doula.