Sunday, May 9, 2010

Rally for Dr. Wonderful on Mother's Day

Dr. Robert Biter was given the name Dr. Wonderful by the well-known and loved blogger Navelgazing Midwife. We birth bloggers often make disclaimers (either preemptively or when directly accused of being 'anti-doctor') when criticizing common obstetric practices and attitudes, stating variations upon the theme of "We know there are exceptions, we know there are good, caring, incredible doctors out there who honor birth and babies and understand the pitfalls of intervention." This man IS the exception. He embodies it. Let me give you a taste, from the aforementioned blog. The text and beautiful photography are all hers. Her homebirth-planning client needed to change to a hospital setting, and lucky for everyone, Dr. Biter was there:
The (wonderful, amazing) nurse (we had) did a vaginal exam and found mom to be 3 cm. The nurse and I began preparing mom for a cesarean - physically and emotionally. I explained the cesarean procedure, the epidural... and the nurse said the anesthesiologist would do a spinal because the spinal would be faster... and I explained things to dad, tried to get his garb for him to put on, but we were busy getting consents signed and all. Waiting for the doctor seemed endless. Fetal heart tones were dipping into the 90's and not getting any higher than 110 with accelerations. I kept calm, but was clear and sharp with the information.

My dear doctor was on the phone at the nurse's station when I went out to go ask his ETA and our nurse said, "Do you want to talk to him?" and I emphatically said, "YES!" before the other nurse hung up and said he was on his way in.

Dr. Wonderful floated into the room like a silk scarf on perfumed air, filled with more confidence and hope than I carried - more like a midwife than I was at that moment. He did a vaginal exam and immediately, the baby's heart rate jumped to 148! She loved his touch on her head. Oh, and how I did, too. Mom had also progressed to 6 cm. in the last 30 minutes. Amazing!

Tears fell from my eyes as I watched the baby's heart rate settle back down into the low 100's (90's/100's) and the doctor suggested taking a whiff of oxygen every few minutes when she felt like it instead of keeping it on all the time like she had been. He also told her she didn't have to lie on her left side... to move wherever she wanted to - oh, how she wanted to be on her hands and knees! He said the baby was just low, having a vagal response and there was no need for a cesarean at all.

And me, thinking he needed a scalpel. How precipitous I would have been as a surgeon! Thank the goddess it wasn't me making that decision.

Interjection from me: How moving is that shot? Believe it or not, there's an OB in that picture: Dr. Wonderful is on the left. Yes, really. Sitting patiently on the bed with her, calmly being the essence of watchful waiting. Lights lowered, mom upright and naked and doing her own thing, as support simply stands by without being intrusive. This photograph is equally revealing:

As Navelgazing Midwife writes of her shot:

I love, Love, LOVE this photo. It speaks of the beauty a hospital birth can actually attain when given a chance with the right doctors, nurses and hospital. And supportive midwife as doula. Because we thought she would need a cesarean, we had mom take off her gorgeous Hawaiian dress and mom was then naked. The great nurse handed mom a hospital gown once mom knew she was going to stay laboring in that room and she promptly took the gown, put it in front of her and puked all over it. I thought I was going to pee in my pants from laughing so hard. No one ever offered her another gown.

The birth unfolds further (you really must read the whole thing; I'm cutting it up for length and space), with more description and wonderful photography, and then this:

Dad wasn't sure about catching, was going to help me catch when we were having a homebirth, but wasn't so sure about it at the hospital. Once there, though, I'd talked him into helping the doc and even had him practice washing his hands with the fancy foot soap and water thingie at the sink. Once the doctor was there, though, he was more nervous, but as things got closer, I put my midwife voice on and said, "You will only birth this child ONE TIME, so I HIGHLY suggest..." and that was as far as I needed to go before he jumped up and washed his hands and got ready to help the doc catch his baby.

Do you see the doctor in this picture? He's the one not in scrubs. The one in the yellow shirt.

In 24 years and 8 months of assisting women in birth in the hospital, I have never seen a woman birth on hands and knees. I've never seen an OB or a CNM allow a woman to birth in the hands and knees position. I have never seen an OB do a vaginal exam on a woman in any position except on her back until this birth when this doctor did a vaginal exam with mom on her hands and knees. I actually wondered if he could even find her vagina with her on her hands and knees! He didn't have any problems at all. Shocking. I think I've seen a CNM do a vaginal exam on a woman in an "alternative" position maybe 20 times in all these years, so even that is a sad commentary. I tell women I can find their vagina or fetal heart tones if they are hanging from chandeliers! How did I get so good at it? PRACTICE!

Anyway, so here my client has her baby on her hands and knees... her husband helps the doc catch and it is amazingly wonderful, but now mom needs to see her new daughter. How does that happen?

In most hospital worlds (as if any of the above would have happened in the first place), the cord would be cut, mom would be flipped over, the bed would be broken, mom would have her feet placed in the stirrups so she could have her vagina checked and she'd get her baby that way. Instead, Dr. Wonderful, who's not wearing scrubs and only a pair of surgical gloves, doesn't cut the cord and knows how important it is to just give mom her kidlet says, "Okay, mom... here comes your daughter... ready?" And then passes her between her legs.

I love, Love, LOVE that I have this picture! There won't be many times in my life that I will have a photo such as this. This is a DOCTOR (I know, I shouldn't be shocked anymore, should I? But I am. I am mostly shocked that I am blessed to be in the same room and photographing such an awe-inspiring event that brings hope to hospital birth everywhere).

I end the series with a tender surprise photo I took of Dr. Wonderful with my client. He embraced her, then she him. He with tears in his eyes and both of them whispering thanks to each other.
Utterly incredible, right? The way hospital birth should be all the time, whenever possible, right?

So why am I going on and on about this right now? I mean, the post and story and photography are all sublime and could be marveled at anytime, so why the urgency?

Well, I'm sorry to report that Dr. Wonderful has just lost his privileges at Scripps hospital in San Diego, leaving expectant mothers without care (though other care providers are stepping up to fill the formidable void, including the Navelgazing Midwife herself, who has a long history with Dr. Biter) and, equally important, taking one of the most progressive OB's in existence out of the picture, for reasons that have everything to do with his willingness to support mothers, for being "too slow on the decision-to-incision".

This is an absolute TRAVESTY. THIS is one of the good guys. THIS is one of the doctors who has the guts to stand up for women in the face of our largely atrocious maternity care system. THIS is one of the few OB's to whom I would ever entrust my or my child's well-being - and that's saying a lot. He stood with mothers and gave them and their babies time and care and choices. So of course this was inevitable. The timing of this, by the way, comes on the heels of the recent closing of St. Vincent's in New York, the hospital to which many home birth midwives could transfer. The battle claims another casualty.

His supporters in San Diego and surrounding areas have pulled together a rally for tomorrow, on Mother's Day. If you are in the area, GO! If you know anyone in the area who cares about birth SEND THEM! I wish I were in San Diego to fight the good fight with and for him. We cannot take this lying down. Literally or figuratively.

INFO:
Come and show your support for Dr. Biter tomorrow (MOTHER'S Day) by attending a protest in front of Scripps Encinitas: Scripps Encinitas: 354 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024
11AM-1:30PM Wear Green! Bring Signs! (and a lunch, snacks, water, etc.) Babies and kids welcome.

Dr. Biter, if by any odd chance you read this, PLEASE do not give up caring for women in exactly the way you have been. Please take heart and know that there are women across the country who know what you do and how vitally important it is. We need you, and others like you. And our babies need you.

*****
Edited to add:

More news. Here's how awesome he is, as if you needed more evidence: For the time being, he "is now offering to attend his patients as an unpaid doula at Sharp Mary Birch so that he can offer his patients the support they need, until this gets resolved."

AS AN UNPAID DOULA. How many doctors do you think would ever even THINK of doing such a humble, gracious thing? That says everything there is to say about this man's intentions and character.

Edited yet again to add:

Here's what we non-locals can do to help from a distance:

Write a letter to the CEO of Scripps Encinitas:
Chris Van Gorder--President & CEO of Scripps
4275 Campus Point Court
San Diego, CA 92121

Please send copies to awelllivedlife[at]hotmail.com

And, of course, spread the word.

46 comments:

  1. Wow, this Doc is definitely amazing. Thank you for sharing this story, and for passing on the information. Wish I could be in Cali to rally, but let's get out the info to everybody we can!

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  2. thanks for posting. he's my doc, friend and as a birth doula, my collegue (his term used). tomorrows going to be amazing.

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  3. An unspeakable tragedy! Further proof that the medical world in the US is beyond messed up...

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  4. There are simply no words...I wish I lived within a day's drive because I'd totally be there!

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  5. ^ But, at the same time, it's so reassuring to know that there are doctors out there who believe in the power of birth and the women's bodies to do what they do naturally. I hope that women begin to realize that there is "another way" to have a baby and it's not flat on your back, hooked up to all kinds of machines and constantly being "prepped" for a c-section.

    There can still be tons of good to come out of this situation...for everyone, including Dr. Biter and I hope it happens sooner than later.

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  6. "Well, I'm sorry to report that Dr. Wonderful has just lost his privileges at Scripps hospital in San Diego"

    A hospital cannot simply take away a doctor's privileges on a whim. The hospital must have a reason. So what reason did they give? Has he been successfully sued for malpractice many times? Has he repeatedly disregarded the hospital's rules and put them in danger of losing their malpractice insurance? What is the official reason?

    If a doctor has not been afforded due process, it is very easy for him to hire a lawyer and prevent the loss of privileges. The fact that things have gone this far suggests that the hospital has a legitimate reason for revoking privileges.

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  7. It is amazingly sad when a doctor loses their privileges, especially a doctor willing to allow an awesome natural birth.

    Kind of like Hospitals in CA threatening Dr. Fischbein to take his privileges or reprimanding him for stupid things like delayed cord clamping.

    Congrats Dou-la-la though, you got the internets biggest troll to comment!

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  8. Jenna, I am so jealous that you've worked with him! It says everything that he refers to you as a colleague. Lucky gal, you!

    Angela, I also agree that much good may come of this indeed.

    Amy, yes, I'm very interested in seeing what the hospital has to say. What I know from Carol Yeh-Garner:

    "Here's what I know: There have been no obstetrical malpractice issues against him---ever. The hospital, specifically some OBs, have been attacking him for the last 3 years for protecting women's rights for natural birth. I believe it's all out of greed for money--less interventions means less money for the hospital. Other doctors were losing their patients to Dr. Biter because they wanted a doctor who would support them & that trusted birth as being a woman's birthright rather than a medical procedure.

    He has figured out a backup plan for his current patients that are due right now. The perinatologist group at Sharp Mary Birch have agreed to deliver his patients & allow him to be an unpaid doula/support person to his patients."

    But it's true that this is only one perspective. Again, agreed, I do want to see what the hospital itself has to say.

    All, I'm updating the main post with info on letter writing!

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  9. "The hospital, specifically some OBs, have been attacking him for the last 3 years for protecting women's rights for natural birth."

    I'd be very interested in learning what else you find out, Anne.

    Hospital privileges are a contractual arrangement and are governed by elaborate legal rules. You can't revoke a doctor's privileges because you don't like him or because he is stealing patients. You must have a reason that fulfills the contractual provisions of the original agreement.

    In general, hospital privileges can only be revoked for cause and acceptable causes include substandard medical practice, violation of hospital rules, substance abuse, inappropriate sexual contact with patients, etc. Moreover, many states require that revocation of privileges be reported to the Board of Medicine so that a doctor's fitness to practice can be reviewed.

    In short, it is virtually impossible to successfully revoke privileges as the result of a grudge. There must be a reason that is both medically and legally appropriate.

    In the case of Dr. Fischbein, mentioned above, he fully admits to repeatedly violating hospital policies. In addition, he has been found guilty of sexual exploitation of a patient and has been put on probation by the medical board. It amazes me that homebirth advocates would support a doctor who was convicted of inappropriate sexual contact with a patient.

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  10. Yes, 'Dr.' Amy, it is a contractual agreement 'governed by elaborate rules'. The thing is, if a hospital has a policy requiring fetal monitoring, or vaginal exams, or any other number of ROUTINE interventions that are often unnecessary (and often detrimental) for low risk patients, but the doctor allows the patient to refuse these ROUTINES the doctor can be punished for it. They can be punished for something that is REQUIRED due to hospital POLICY, policy that is not even supported in medical research. So the point is that it is possible for a doctor to be punished for standing up for a woman's rights. Women and babies are not cookie cutter and can not be treated routinely and expect consistent positive outcomes. This doctor clearly was capable of grasping that concept. I wonder why it is so difficult for you?

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  11. "The thing is, if a hospital has a policy requiring fetal monitoring, or vaginal exams, or any other number of ROUTINE interventions that are often unnecessary (and often detrimental) for low risk patients, but the doctor allows the patient to refuse these ROUTINES the doctor can be punished for it."

    Really? Are you a lawyer? A hospital administrator? Have you read or written privilege agreements? What makes you think that privileges could be revoked for that reason?

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  12. Of course, "Dr." Amy will find any reason to look down upon an OB who believes in the natural process of birth.

    This man is making an important, positive impact on America's poor maternal care system. Why don't you try making a positive impact for a change, "Dr." Amy, instead of trolling beautiful posts?

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  13. Dr Amy go away. You havent even practiced in years. You repulse me. You do such a disservice to mothers and babies, stop taking away their power!

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  14. 'Dr.' Amy... I really wonder why a woman so completely against birth would ever be involved in it. One does not need to be an administrator, a doctor, or work in a hospital to read the same papers and contracts that these people have. These are publicly available and patients have the right to request to see them as they govern the patient's care.

    I hate OBs but this man brings a tear to my eye.

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  15. Yes, Amy privileges have been revoked for simpler things than this. You of all people should know that the system isn't perfect, after all, you claim to be a doctor.

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  16. Honestly Amy, what is your problem? Why not just drop the issue and let women birth at home if they so choose? Why do you even care? And why is this your personal vendetta? Is this vengeance deeply rooted in some personal issue related to your own experiences in childbirth? Are you on a mission to rob women of experiences you didn't/couldn't have? Honestly I would love to know what your problem is.

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  17. "Women and babies are not cookie cutter and can not be treated routinely and expect consistent positive outcomes. This doctor clearly was capable of grasping that concept. I wonder why it is so difficult for you? "

    Amy you never answered this. Why is it so difficult for you to grasp this concept?

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  18. Please do not allow Amy's poison to infiltrate this blog or the women who read it. She has been banned from many other blogs for her trollish behavior.

    Don't feed the troll!

    Until she is able to stop with the inciting and off topic comments the best thing to do is ignore, ignore, ignore.

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  19. This completely breaks my heart.

    Years ago I delivered both my babies naturally at Scripps Encinitas and was impressed by the hospital's acceptance of natural birth & breastfeeding. It is difficult to find an OB/GYN like Dr. Biter so to see this once respected hospital of mine turn against one of THE most beloved OB's in the area makes me sad. I guarantee this....should I have another baby, it WON'T be at Scripps Encinitas!!!!

    Women, we need to make our voices heard and not accept the decisions of a medical bureaucracy to dictate this most personal and intimate moment in our life. We need to stand behind doctors like Dr. Biter if we want our choices to be respected!

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  20. Nancy YelvingtonMay 9, 2010 at 9:41 PM

    What an amazing man! This is what obstectrics should be. I just LOVE the last photo of him with mom...just beautiful.




    Thank you, anon, for reminding us not to empower the trolls!

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  21. Does anyone have any simple facts regarding why his priviledges were revoked?? There's been a ton of speculation and name calling here, but no actual reliable information about what happened.

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  22. Scripps Encinitas will not comment and Dr. Biter's lawyers have asked him not to comment at this time.

    What has been said is, more or less, what is happening. Just make the accusations into a more technical, medico-legal language and you have it all.

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  23. "Scripps Encinitas will not comment and Dr. Biter's lawyers have asked him not to comment at this time."

    Scripps Encinitas is almost certainly prohibited from commenting because of confidentiality rules. Dr. Biter could comment but evidently, for strategic reasons, his lawyers have advised him not to comment. That suggests that the matter is not at an end.

    "Just make the accusations into a more technical, medico-legal language and you have it all."

    Could you quote the medico-legal accusations, please?

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  24. Well, let's see;

    Dr. Biters refusal to wear "proper surgical attire" could be said to be against hospital policy.

    Dr. Biter NOT following "accepted guidelines" of using I.V's, constant fetal monitoring, etc... could very well be seen as going against hospital policy.

    And heaven forbid he ever said anything to other doctors- especially someone with more "authority" than him, about changing the way things are done. That could very well be seen as "insubordination"- which often carries immediate termination as a consequence.

    Let's not forget that a nurse with a grudge could easily file a complaint of "sexual impropriety" if he had to feel around a little to examine a women on her hands and knees.

    Those are all purely hypotheticals, but they show that it it wouldn't take much to find a reason to get rid of a doctor who is pretty much single-handedly proving that what's been done for YEARS to laboring women is wrong.

    I don't know that this is the case, but as not one patient has EVER complained about him, or filed malpractice against him, sure gives the appearance of it being the case that the "medical establishment" doesn't like the fact that he's proving that less intervention is better than the " normal operatng procedure"- which the hospital would see as an invitation to a lawsuit should something actually go wrong.

    I mean, how DARE he treat women like they have the right to birth thier babies in a peaceful setting, with a lack of tubes,needles and monitors, and (gasp) a surgical team standing by to fix what the doctors broke in the first place. How DARE he empower women that way, instead of going along with the way things are done in this country.(snark intended)

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  25. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  26. As I watch the animals give birth on my farm, this Spring in silence in the corner of the barn totally unaided, I wonder how the medical system ever hijacked our human birthing process. Thankfully, the epoch when we submitted to false authority in hospital gowns, on our backs with our feet in stirrups is being questioned more and more by the medical community. If we Moms mentor compassionate, authentic and ethically-centred human beings, no doubt one or two will end up becoming Doctors! Allyson McQuinn, Author of The Path to Cure; The Whole Art of Healing and soon: From Rage to Orgastic Potency: Unfolding the Essential Self

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  27. Some perspective on why Dr. Biter practices medicine the way he does.

    http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/memag/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=182787&pageID=1&sk=&date=

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  28. I'm so glad I got to read this today at the same time it makes me very sad. Being a good hearted care provider looks like a blessing and a curse. I pray that things work in his favor.

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  29. "Dr Amy" how long has it been since you have practiced medicine? Why did you stop practicing?

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  30. Dr. Tuteur,

    I am a corporate healthcare attorney, and I will confirm that these contracts are not "rocket science." I am not sure why you think a person needs a specialty degree to be well-informed. I don't know the details of this case, of course. However, I do not think it is unreasonable to speculate that Dr. Biter not following certain procedures would be cause for loss of privileges under an employment contract. If I had a similarly low opinion of my clients that you have of women (yep, I read your blog), I wouldn't have many clients.

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  31. Let's recap:

    Everyone: Dr Biter rocks, it sucks he's dealing with this, it sucks for women that he's dealing with this, what can we do to help

    "Dr" Amy: You "natural" people suck at using your brains. Let me try and sound waaaay smart so that you fools keep falling into my traps to spawn more inflammation.

    NGM: I am *like this* with Dr Wonderful, he can't talk, neither will the hospital in question, but I can tell you from personal discussions y'all are on the right track.

    "Dr" Amy: NGM, please enlighten me with the real reasons Dr Biter is dealing with this even though he has been advised not to discuss this, therefore by proxy neither can you. BUT, I am the ALL POWERFUL "DR" AMY, so you MUST do as I say, bwaaahaaahaaa!!! And until you answer me I'm going to stalk this blog and every other "natural" child birth blog out there as if my paycheck depends on it.

    Me: Ummm, Amy, you need to have a discussion with your ego. It called and said that it knows that your arrogance is simply masking your insecurity.

    Does that pretty much cover it?

    My best wishes and regards are still Dr Biter and his family, including his clientèle. Here's hoping this mess gets resolved much sooner than later and has a positive outcome.

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  32. Wow! I just read about this recent story on twitter (babies by the sea) and ended up here. What an amazing birth story. Dr. Biter has a wonderful reputation here in SD. I will do whatever I can to spread the word and encourage more signatures for the petition.

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  33. What an amazing doctor, and yes, I know how easily hospitals can punish a doctor for not following their "accepted procedures". I am searching for someone to deliver my baby right now. My insurance won't cover out of hospital births & I'm terrified. My first two were born in hospitals (on in MN, one in NY.. my ex-husband was army, they were civilian hospitals however) and I hated the way they treated my labor & delivery both times. I barely managed to fight & claw my way out of far more interventions & a c-section the first time. I so badly wish I had a doctor like this in my area. I'd do anything for that kind of hospital experience!

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  34. for the latest and greatest...

    http://bringbiterback.blogspot.com/

    posted here is an update of who and where to send letters to.
    thanks everyone

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  35. The OB I saw for both of my sons' pregnancies and who attended my 2nd son's birth was also forced out of her position within her practice because of a "too low" cesarean rate.
    There is something very very very wrong with a health care system that penalizes doctors for doing the best care for their patients and not forcing women into unnecessary surgery.

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  36. OMG, I want to marry him! Here's hoping this works out well (from Canada).

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  37. Jenna, thank you for the link! I included it with my latest post, along with info on the BIG rally for Friday the 14th.

    On what we know and don't know: nothing further on specifics has come from any party, for legal reasons. All we have is what we know, which is the testimonials of scores upon scores of happy families as well as colleagues who also care about supporting birth choices. I will say right here and now that if it comes out that Dr. Biter was really doing something illegal or unethical, I OF COURSE would revoke my support and would encourage others to do the same. But until we get reliable word that he's been smoking pot in the doctor's lounge or falsifying documents or sexually harassing someone - I can only work with what I do know.

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  38. Moms are powerful together! Thanks so much for all that you've shared. I also posted it at Home Office Mommy Magazine. I only wish this group had been around when I got pregnant at 40. With this kind of support for our right to choose, yal make me proud to be a woman!

    Believe well!

    Adelaide Zindler
    Home Office Mommy
    http://www.HomeOfficeMommyMagazine.com

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  39. What a wonderful birth story - but a real shame about Dr Biter. If you want to see more births and doctors like this you need to come to Australia - we birth like this all the time!!!!

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  40. Mum2abc. Whre in Australia are you cause I know no one with a hospital birth story anything like this. If my hospital experience was like this then I never would have had a homebirth for #2. Our C/S rate is almost as high as the US, our hospitals are just as ridiculous about routine procedures, and on top of all that , our government is doing its darndest to make sure we can't homebirth with a midwife.

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  41. Christina StavrakisMay 15, 2010 at 11:39 PM

    I think it's an absolute crime that women cannot do what nature intended them to, but are pressured by so-called 'experts' into something that is unnatural and can have long-lasing negative effects!!

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  42. "I believe it's all out of greed for money--less interventions means less money for the hospital."

    COMPLETE STUPIDITY!!!!

    Newsflash. Hospitals get paid a flat rate for births. Less intervention=less expenses=MORE PROFITS for the hospital!!!

    They should be ecstatic IF a doctor used few resources and still had no preventable problems that would get them sued, as his groupies claim.

    This just shows how out of date these midwife/doula types are. Or maybe the math is just too hard for them.

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  43. "They (OBs)can be punished for something that is REQUIRED due to hospital POLICY, policy that is not even supported in medical research."

    Not supported according to whom??

    But I digress, bottom line, he must have agreed to it when he signed up. What kind of a person agrees and then reneges?

    Plus, he's got his wonderful birth center and he hardly ever does sections... what's the big deal?

    According to his groupies, he doesn't want to follow the rules of the hospital and he's so great that he rarely needs it anyway. Why the protest then?

    Bascially, it is typical childish doula/midwife/natural nazi entitlement thinking. You demand everyone accomodate you doing what you want where you want.

    And you pick place where someone else (the hospital -- a grown-up like institution) will pick up the pieces when the you-know-what hits the fan.

    If your appoaches are so enlightened, so much better, then go to your homes and birthing centers. Come in through the ER when you are "in need of medical attention". If you want play chicken, do so on your own turf.

    You have no right to demand that a hospital let you do risky things and allow problems to get too far out of hand on its floors, so that you are a lot closer to responsible grown-ups that know what they are doing when you finally admit that letting nature take its course isn't working out for you.

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  44. "And heaven forbid he ever said anything to other doctors- especially someone with more "authority" than him, about changing the way things are done."

    Gee, I thought women were supposed to be in charge of that. Now, I get it. We can only do what the male in charge wants changed.

    "Let's not forget that a nurse with a grudge could easily file a complaint of "sexual impropriety" if he had to feel around a little to examine a women on her hands and knees."

    Let me guess the nurse must be female, so she is the stereotypical woman scorned or deceitful manipulative B*tch.

    "I don't know that this is the case, but as not one patient has EVER complained about him, or filed malpractice against "

    Com'on get updates. Now that it's well know he has four recent (and some older) everyone is claiming "well, they weren't OB suits" (and these are the same people who claimed there weren't any suits before). But attacking and defiling women who don't agree with natural nazis is the norm, isn't it? I wonder how all the victims in these suits feel about your "support"?

    How empowering. How pro-woman.

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  45. I appreciate the recent comments, Anonymous, as I can't think of a better time in this thread to share that it was announced today that he has been reinstated as of yesterday.

    Most of this isn't cohesive enough to engage in a genuine dialogue on, but to address just a few select points:

    "You have no right to demand that a hospital let you do risky things"

    To return your volley - risky according to whom?

    "If your appoaches are so enlightened, so much better, then go to your homes and birthing centers."

    And there we have the crux of it.

    Many women in fact DO do exactly this . . . and are then attacked for it. "Hey, sure, have a natural childbirth if you want, just do it in the hospital!" I would think that hospital birth advocates would be jumping all over doctors like this in a GOOD way, as many of his patients would otherwise be birthing at home, and it's only due to his supportive practices (and those of others like him) that they even agree to be in a hospital at all. Isn't that a GOOD thing, according to those who are virulently anti-home birth?

    But for a grand finale, we have not only this: "Bascially, it is typical childish doula/midwife/natural nazi entitlement thinking,"

    . . . but also this: "But attacking and defiling women who don't agree with natural nazis is the norm, isn't it?"

    GODWIN'S LAW! Awesome, thanks - I officially win. Twice over, in fact! *takes two victory laps*

    And if anyone else ever uses the term "Nazi" here to describe anyone who was not a member of the National Socialist Party in pre-WWII Germany (or a present-day skinhead) gets their comment deleted. This means ANYONE, no matter what "side" they're on.

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  46. [I should mention that that ludicrous Nazi comments also hereby close the thread.]

    More info on Dr. Biter's reinstatement here.
    Thanks for the participation, all! Enjoy your weekends.

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