Nurses trying to take down CPMs

I received this in an email today. It is an article from the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses.
This is so disturbing and frustrating. I've been conducting a response letter in my head all day. Read on...

From the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal
> Nurses Fall 2007 newsletter�
> __________________________________________________
>
> Certified Professional (Lay) Midwives Seeking Licensure Status
> without Demonstration of Adequate Education, Training, and Physician
> Links
>
> Certain associations representing midwives have been vigorously
> pursuing the enactment of legislation that would codify for
> licensure purposes, the "professional" status of Certified
> Professional (Lay) Midwives. AWHONN is aware of such legislative
> activity in Maine, Delaware, Illinois and Alabama and requests that
> AWHONN sections monitor such activities in their respective states
> and inform the Public Affairs Department at AWHONN Headquarters
> immediately. AWHONN has prepared materials for use in combating
> this unfortunate trend, which would contribute to placing patients
> at serious risk in the face of deliver complications.
>
> Background
> AWHONN strongly supports the practice of midwifery by a Certified
> Nurse Midwife (CNM), who is a registered nurse with an advanced
> degree and broad range of training in areas including pharmacology,
> and formal collaborates with other health care professionals as an
> expectation of their licensure to provide safe, holistic care.
>
> Certified Professional (Lay) Midwives (CPMs), in contrast, have a
> far more limited apprenticeship and are not required to have
> relevant college degree, pharmacology training, or collaborative
> practice agreement with an obstetrician or hospital in case of
> complications.
>
> Given the disparities in education, preparedness and professional
> back-up, AWHONN is concerned that state licensure of CPMs with have
> a significantly negative implications for women and their newborns.
>
> The term "Certified Professional Midwife" is misleading to the
> public about the breadth of education and training that the lay
> midwife may to have, and AWHONN fears that licensing these lay
> practitioners will serve to foster this misunderstanding and place
> consumers and patients at unnecessary risk.
>
> Take Action! This is an urgent situation that requires YOUR action!
>
> � Explore whether this issue has arisen in your state and let
> AWHONN's Public Affairs Department know promptly. Contact Lauren
> Bates, AWHONN Legislative Associate, at LBates@awhonn.org
>
> � To see if your state has pending legislation to provide
> licensing for CPMs, visit www.awhonn.org/policy and click on "State
> Legislation".
>
> � AWHONN headquarters will assist you in developing an
> appropriate response your section can then convey to your state
> legislators.
>
> Your voice matters on this issue. AWHONN is not opposing lay
> midwives having their livelihood, but rather is against licensure
> that could mislead the public and cause harm when services are
> rendered by those who would be licensed as "professionals," but do
> not posses the training or clinical affiliations typically required
> for licensure of trained health professionals.
>
>
> - Lauren Bates
>
>