Couldn't agree more Chris. I've personally been banging on about this for
some years. The effects on the environment are under-researched. Below are
references - the Mackay one is worth a read. Also Marlene Sinclair has a
special interest in technology and the midwife and has written about it.
Marlene Sinclair
E-mail Address(es):
[log in to unmask]
McKay S (1991) Shared power: the essence of humanised childbirth. Pre and
Peri-Natal Psychology 5(4):283-295
Walsh D (2001) Midwives and birth technology: the debate that’s overdue.
Midirs 11(3):Supp 2,S3-S6
Walsh D (2000) Evidence-based care series 4: Fetal monitoring should be
controlled. British Journal of Midwifery.8(8):511-16
Denis Walsh
PhD Student
UCLAN
----- Original Message -----
From: "hendry" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2003 9:51 PM
Subject: Re: Computerised Decision support systems/intelligent systems
> Hi to you all from the wintry south.
> I really appreciate the interesting conversations and information on this
> list. I am a regular lurker, but could not hold myself back on this one!
>
> I am really concerned about the potential application of an intelligent
> electronic CTG system. Firstly, how reliable are CTGs in actually telling
> the story. If the woman is at an odd angle, the baby sleeping, the mother
> anxious etc, all, in my experience, impact on the CTG tracing. How are you
> going to get it right for the computer. Place women in a moulded bed (I
hope
> I am not giving anyone ideas), in a specifically simulated environment? No
> matter how hard you will not replicate the 'normal' environment for that
> women, so how can you determine the 'cause' of an 'irregular' CTG tracing?
>
> What about the human dimension. Pregnancy and birthing are generally
anxiety
> provoking for most women. I could not imagine anything worse than being
> lined up, placed in an artificial position (most pregnant women do not lie
> still all day) and being told by someone else how your baby is. Are we
> taking away from women their ability to judge their bodies and from
midwives
> the skills of knowing the subtle changes that occur in pregnancy and birth
> and the 'symptoms' displayed by mother and baby as a result? What about
the
> effect of environment?
>
> I really think we need to step back and think about the long term effects
> for both us and women of the belief that we can safely electronically
> observe pregnancy and childbirth. This has the potential to further create
a
> dependence on technology in pregnancy and childbirth which leads to a loss
> of skills. What about the routine use of scans to determine DOB even when
> the woman can pin point the date of conception!!
>
> I am not anti technology, but I think we need to include a philosophical
> critique of the potential for such technology to guide development.
>
>
> Chris Hendry
> (03-3489-347) or
> (021-655-355)
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Gloria Lankshear <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, May 09, 2003 4:07 AM
> Subject: Computerised Decision support systems/intelligent systems
>
>
> > Dear list members,
> >
> > I am studying a computerised decision support system which is going to
be
> implemented into a NHS delivery suite shortly. It is a system that will
> assist in interpreting the CTG reading of the fetal heart rate.
> >
> > In my literature searches I have come across many papers on the design
of
> expert systems and intelligent systems but no papers except the following
> asking the users what they think of such systems and whether they are
indeed
> helpful.
> >
> > Hartland, J. (1993), 'The use of intelligent machines for
> electrocardiograph interpretation', in Button, G. (ed.), Technology in
> Working Order.
> >
> > Have any members had any experience of such systems themselves? Or do
they
> know of such systems in actual use, rather than in the design stage. I
have
> read about MYCIN.
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> >
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