The St. Petersburg Times on Monday examined the controversy surrounding home births, which has pitted some home birth advocates and physicians against each other. While supporters of home births have "flung phrases like 'father knows best' and 'power play,'" opponents have used "trendy" and "the latest cause celebre," according to the Times. Last month, the

The lack of a fall in the maternal death rate in the latest report by the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) has been partly attributed to the increasing percentage of births from immigrant women. Women from ethnic minority groups (defined as those other than white British women), immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers and those from the gypsy population have been identified as being significantly more at risk of maternal mortality.

A 26 year old registered nurse from Welling, Kent has been struck off the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register for failures in sharps handling and disposal. Newly qualified Jemma Breslin was working at Queen Elizabeth NHS Trust in February 2007 when she was charged with going against the hospital's procedure and policy by administering a controlled drug without the assistance or witness of a colleague.

Commenting on the findings of the investigation into David Britten and the Peter Dally Clinic, Former Chief Executive of CNWL NHS Trust and now Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, Dr Peter Carter, said: "The findings of this investigation are overall very welcome. "The report sets out that Britten systematically abused many women over a twenty year period.

Two groundbreaking articles, a study examining women's experiences after infertility and a review of chronic fatigue syndrome in childbearing women, were published in the July/August 2008 issue of the Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health. Women's Lived Experience of Infertility after Unsuccessful Medical Intervention is authored by M. Patrice McCarthy, RN, CNS, PhD.

A 51 year old adult nurse from East Ham, London has been struck off the register following a hearing by the Nursing and Midwifery (NMC's) independent Conduct and Competence Committee panel. Philomena David was employed as an E grade practise nurse at Plasnet Road Medical Centre, Maidstone between January 2005 and August 2005 when a string of incidents occurred where she failed to demonstrate the standard of knowledge, skill and judgement required to practise without supervision.

A 43 year old registered nurse from Kirkintilloch, Scotland has been struck off the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register for an assault conviction that left his wife severely injured and his fitness to practise impaired. George Preston was convicted of assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement at Glasgow Sheriff and Jury Court in March 2006.

An American Medical Association resolution stating that "the safest setting for labor, delivery and the immediate postpartum period is in the hospital" or an accredited birth center "falls flat" because of a lack of "credible research" to support the claim, Jennifer Block, author of "Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care," writes in a

Physicians who use "outbursts and condescending language" to bully nurses can make nurses afraid to question their performance, which can increase risk for medical errors, as well as the cost of care, according to a safety alert issued on Wednesday by the Joint Commission, an independent group that accredits most U.S. hospitals, the

The Royal College of Nursing has commented on the Healthcare Commission's Review of Maternity Services in England, stating that women need to have confidence in the health service and receive support of the highest possible standard. The College has also highlighted the issues surrounding staffing in maternity services.