Tag: elected officials

The Christmas Spirit

jmacmidwife

“If serving is below you, leadership is beyond you.”

Anonymous

It is decidedly easy to choose not to celebrate Christmas when there is not much to celebrate. I am thankful for the roof over my head and the food I have to eat. I am thankful for my friends and of course my roommate. I am thankful for my parents and extended family. I am thankful to be able to borrow my dad’s car. I am thankful for my stubbornness, resilience, and determination. But I do not have my kids with me this holiday. I am not in good health. I have no money to purchase anyone gifts. It is hard to see families together and hear about my friends plans, parties, and vacationing. Yes, Christmas is only one day, but the days surrounding it are usually filled with anticipation, joy, and preparation, of which this year I have none. I plan to spend the break in my pajamas, working and distracting myself from the holidays. Fortunately, I am in sunny Florida and the turquoise skies and warm breezes make this easy to achieve.

When out of the blue, I get a call. Not many people call me anymore, especially from Louisiana. So, when I see a number from northern Louisiana, I am exceedingly happy— I know it is Senator John Milkovich— on Christmas Eve nonetheless. After I say hello, he asks to speak with me. I reply with thank you for calling Senator. He responds with—well you do not sound like a criminal. LOL. Of course not, I suggest it is because I am not one, to which we both laugh. It felt more like a call from a friend whom I have not spoken with in a while than a Senator. His intentions, sincerity, and honesty transpired throughout our conversation making it feel like a visit to church, a coffee shop, and grandma’s house all at the same time.

Our conversation focused mostly on the spirit— the spirit of the law, the spirit of Christmas, but most importantly, the spirit of humanity. Senator John Milkovich was not calling today to discuss the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, even though that is what initially brought me to his attention. He said he had me on his mind and he felt like he needed to reach out and spread a message of hope today and for the coming year. How he knew I needed to hear this today I will never know, but his phone call made all the difference in my outlook. (Tears still well up in my eyes, even as I type this.) As I thanked him for taking the time to call me, he insisted its not him to thank but a higher calling, one that represents Christianity, the triumph of good over evil, blessings above curses, and hopefulness despite injustice. He lifted me up in prayer, not as an elected official, but as a kind, caring stranger. This call replenished everything that had been lacking not only in preparation for the Christmas holiday, but in my life. Senator Milkovich didn’t call me to secure my vote–I don’t even live in Louisiana anymore– he called to gift me with the best present anyone could ask for– concern, care, compassion, empathy, hope, love, and most importantly, value in this world. In his humble goodbye, again, he asked me to not thank him for calling, but instead encouraged me to reach out to others in need of this message and pay forward the spirit of hopefulness.

Sometimes we have to sit back and appreciate the mysteries of this world: how we came to be where we are today and who crossed our paths. Despite the many hardships I have faced over the last few years, its people like Senator Milkovich who make me appreciate the journey I have unfortunately taken and those who have blessed my life. It is a humbling reminder that we are not in charge and this world is not for us to understand. Eventually, we will have all the answers, but for now our role, whether we are Senators from Louisiana or out-of-hospital midwives, is to be the good in the world. And towards that noble endeavor I will graciously pay it forward.

Louisiana Representatives

jmacmidwife

I have to admit, I was never good at civics. My friend and I joke that everytime we discuss rules, laws, and bills we have to sing the SchoolHouse Rock! song “I’m just a bill” to remember how it happens. As comical as it is, I really wish I paid more attention in government class. I did spend some time in college writing postcards for a representative in Georgia for extra credit. And that is the extent of my government experience. However, this year, I have to thank the millions of constituents who became active and reached out to their representatives. I believe this movement of being active instead of passive in our government has helped the relationship and understanding as well as expectations of our elected officials. Hence, why I reached out to mine. I have to admit, Dr. Feldman also encouraged me to reach out to a few representatives in particular, to which I am grateful for his guidance.

I continue to reach out to Representative Steve Carter, Senator John Milkovich, and Representative Katrina Jackson….

Dear Representatives, 
I have yet to hear from any of you, so I will keep trying. My license remains suspended. I need help communicating with the LSBME. I am now being told I need to find my own physician to conduct a mental exam, but I need to know what the board wants tested in this exam. The board will not tell me, but rather wants the doctor I find to contact my compliance officer so that she can communicate what the board is looking for. It is almost impossible to cold call psychologists and ask if I can get a mental exam without knowing what I am needed to be screened for. Its like casting a net to catch a guppie. Can someone please help me? I have already been on suspension for over three years. I cannot work anywhere doing anything as my suspension appears in a background check. Please pressure the LSBME to curb their ridiculousness. They need oversight so that practitioners like me who are seeking to fulfill their sanctions can do so in a timely manner, but they are preventing me from doing so. 

Conveniently, the media group Gatehouse recently published a series of articles pertaining to out of hospital midwifery of which they complied a database of all midwives across the US. If we look at Louisiana’s active licensed midwives (and the five midwives who would still be practicing if their licenses were not acted upon) we will find shocking statistics—32% (8/25) have had their licenses acted upon in some capacity. This further underscores the restriction of trade and antitrust issues occurring there. Out of those 20 with active licenses, three have been acted upon by the LSBME for violations and are still practicing in some capacity, whether that is on probation or in a state of undocumented, involuntary suspension. These violations, which midwives carry on their record forever, stem from simple clerical errors to natural occurrences that no one can predict or prevent like stillbirth. Two midwives, including myself have their licenses suspended. One Naturopathic physician was also targeted by the LSBME and had her license to practice midwifery revoked. The data speak for itself: more midwives have inactive licenses in Louisiana than those actively working (26 with two of those licenses having been acted upon). This means that there are more midwives in Louisiana that have, for one reason or another, stopped practicing in Louisiana. Is this because Louisiana unfairly and unjustly monopolizes the practice of midwifery? We can imagine that these midwives who are not practicing anymore or have declined to renew their licenses were dissuaded to do so because of the unethical railroading that occurs there. We can assume they would still be working in the field of midwifery if this Board had oversight and any adherence to the spirit of the law. When 32% of the Louisiana midwives are targeted, no one can claim this field is not being restricted. 

Louisiana Representatives help!

jmacmidwife

With the recommendation of Dr. Feldman, I begin contacting a few choice (Rep. Steven Carter, Senator John Milkovich, and Rep. Katrina Jackson) elected officials to see if political pressure can help persuade the LSBME to employ ethics or fairness into its dealings.

Dear Representatives,
I am diligently trying to work to comply with the burdensome sanctions imposed on me by the LSBME, but I am coming up to roadblock after roadblock. My compliance officer consistently changes how I am supposed to fulfill my sanctions and will not send me a test I am supposed to take. How am I supposed to remove my license from suspension if the LSBME will not let me fulfill the sanctions? I have communicated with the new Director of Investigations, Larry Cresswell, but he is no help either. Please consider helping me navigate this. I am not sure what else to do. I have been corresponding with the LSBME for over a year and have gotten nowhere. My license has been suspended for over three years. I cannot get a job doing anything because this suspension comes up in a background check. I have cancer and need to be able to get medical care. Thank you for your time.