#25 Speaker Series 18Feb2026 SD 480p скачать в хорошем качестве

#25 Speaker Series 18Feb2026 SD 480p

Professor Jeremy Oats AM — Free Birthing: Context, Choice and Clinical Risk In this compelling and highly informative address to Rotary Melbourne, Professor Jeremy Oats AM — distinguished obstetrician, gynaecologist, academic and global maternal health advocate — explores the complex and often controversial practice of “free birthing.” Defined as the decision to give birth without the support of a registered midwife or medical practitioner, free birthing has drawn increasing public attention following recent maternal and neonatal tragedies, including here in Melbourne. Professor Oats provides important historical context on the evolution of maternity care in Australia, highlighting the significant advances in safety achieved through specialist obstetrics, midwifery training and hospital-based care. He carefully distinguishes between professionally supported home births and unsupervised free births, drawing on international research to examine comparative outcomes. The address also explores why some women choose free birthing — including previous traumatic hospital experiences, concerns about medical intervention, and the desire for autonomy and control in childbirth. Importantly, Professor Oats outlines the clinical risks associated with the absence of antenatal screening, labour monitoring and emergency response capacity, while emphasising the responsibility of maternity services to strengthen communication, continuity of care, and respect for maternal choice. This presentation reflects Rotary Melbourne’s commitment to informed public dialogue and to supporting global maternal and child health — including Rotary-led programs improving obstetric training in Timor-Leste and our region.