Midwives
Date Range
Score Range
The Guardian : Factors leading to failures in NHS maternity care
Midwives framed as untrustworthy due to arrogance and refusal to listen
[loaded_adjectives] and [scare_quotes] used to depict midwives as dismissive and morally culpable
“an ingrained arrogance, an attitude of 'we know better' and an utter unwillingness to listen or learn.”
Irish Times : Rising number of ‘free births’ raises alarm among midwives
Midwives and the medical system are portrayed as competent and concerned, responding appropriately to a growing risk
The collective action of all 19 directors of midwifery is highlighted as an 'unprecedented move', framing them as authoritative, unified, and proactive in protecting public safety.
“In an unprecedented move, directors of midwifery at the country’s 19 maternity units – the most senior midwives in the State – have signed a policy paper that linked free births in Ireland with “perinatal and maternal mortality and severe morbidity”.”
news.com.au : Midwife wins appeal to work unsupervised after baby’s tragic death
Midwifery practice framed as failing due to omission of standard referrals and risk assessment
[loaded_adjectives], [decontextualised_statistics] — Focus on failure to refer mother and baby despite 'obvious signs' of hypertension and low birth weight implies professional failure, though later balanced by evidence of reform.
“Ms Hopkins allegedly never discussed medical intervention with the patient or hospitalisation of the baby before its tragic death, despite its small size and need for resuscitation at birth.”
news.com.au : Midwife wins appeal to work unsupervised after baby’s tragic death
Midwife portrayed as having acted unprofessionally and ignored clinical signs
[loaded_adjectives], [loaded_language], [editorializing] — Use of emotionally charged language like 'tragic death' and quotation of non-clinical advice ('ground self on earth') frames the midwife’s actions as unscientific and irresponsible, despite later rehabilitation.
“to ground self on earth to regulate nervous system”
CBC : Facing rural realities and mistrust in hospitals, these women turned to home births
Midwives framed as allies who listen and respect patient autonomy
[balanced_reporting], [proper_attribution]
“I don’t get oppositional,” she said. “They don’t just conjure it out of nowhere, so if we can not gaslight, [and we] listen to them, then we move forward.””
The Guardian : Baby died after NHS trust failed to warn mother of ‘unsafe’ home birth, coroner finds
Undermining trustworthiness of midwives’ guidance
The framing suggests midwives actively encouraged a dangerous decision, contrary to official guidance, which casts their professional judgment as irresponsible and misleading. The mother’s statement that she was 'encouraged' despite high risk implies a breach of trust.
“midwives had actively encouraged her to have a vaginal birth at home, despite the risks because she had given birth to her first daughter, Willow, by caesarean section in 2018”
Daily Mail : Mother of baby that died from complications of natural home birth was not made aware …
Framing midwives as failing in their professional duties during a high-risk birth
[framing_by_emphasis], [comprehensive_sourcing] — The article highlights specific clinical failures, such as slow response and lack of urgency, and emphasizes risk factors that were 'not recognised or appropriately managed', suggesting systemic professional failure.
“There was a failure to recognise and appropriately manage these risk factors.”