ACNM Statement: Patient Abuse at the Philly Pregnancy Center
ACNM stands with ANA in condemning unethical and inappropriate NP conduct with pregnant Black mother
The nurse practitioner’s conduct in the video is unprofessional, accusatory, and disrespectful. Her abusive behavior was a violation of the patient’s privacy of care and goes against the very basic standards of practice. The Standards for the Practice of Midwifery1 state: Midwifery Care Supports Individual Rights and Self-Determination and Respects Human Dignity, Individuality, and Diversity. Further, midwives support self-determination and shared decision-making, and uphold and facilitate the autonomy of all people to make informed health care decisions. Although this nurse practitioner is not a midwife, similar standards for the practice of nurse practitioners exist to hold them accountable. ACNM agrees with and stands by the American Nurses Association2 in condemning this unethical and unacceptable conduct.
According to the CDC, in 2020, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 55.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.9 times the rate for non-Hispanic white women. We are continually reminded that we are in a maternal health care crisis in which Black women are disproportionally affected and harmed. The failure to listen to Black women leads to high morbidity and mortality. This incident demonstrates how health care providers continue to exacerbate a system rife with implicit bias and racism.
ACNM supports the human rights and dignity of all people by respecting their civil rights and providing support for individual choice. Structural racism contributes to health disparities, and the effects of racism coupled with the inherent benefits of white privilege need to be addressed in midwifery education and practice. To reduce health disparities and create a culture of safety, actions must be centered on the identified needs and desires of members of affected communities. Midwifery is a profession that inherently promotes activism and supports opportunities for collective action for social justice.
Overcoming this harm starts with acknowledgement and education, and you can join us in this work. Visit www.midwife.org/deib for more information and resources. Visit our website to view ACNM's full statement3 with more links to supporting midwifery documents.
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The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) is the professional association that represents certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) in the United States. ACNM promotes excellence in midwifery education, clinical practice, and research, and works to strengthen the capacity of midwives in the United States and throughout the world. Our members are primary care providers throughout the lifespan, with a special emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth, and gynecologic and reproductive health. ACNM provides research, administers, and promotes continuing education programs, establishes clinical practice standards, and creates liaisons with state and federal agencies and members of Congress to increase the visibility and recognition of midwifery care. To learn more about ACNM, visit www.midwife.org, engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @ACNMmidwives or find us on LinkedIn.
Natalia Kimrey
ACNM
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1 https://www.midwife.org/acnm/files/acnmlibrarydata/uploadfilename/000000000051/2022_standards-for-the-practice-of-midwifery.pdf
2 https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2022-news-releases/ana-and-the-pennsylvania-state-nurses-association-react-to--philadelphia-pregnancy-center-incident/#:~:text=In%20a%20video%20recording%20from,pain%20and%20providing%20nonjudgmental%20care.
3 https://www.midwife.org/statement-patient-abuse-at-the-philly-pregnancy-center