The Inquiry Committee (the “Committee”) of the College of Midwives of British Columbia (the “College”)
has conducted an investigation into the professional practice of Ms. Renee Walter RM, pursuant to
Section 33 of the Health Professions Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 183.
The Committee and Ms. Walter have agreed to resolve all matters outstanding between them arising from
the investigation pursuant to Section 36(1) of the Health Professions Act, and Bylaw 63 as set out below:
Ms. Walter hereby undertakes to:
when dealing with home births, give consideration to the distance of the home from hospital and the time needed for the arrival of an approved second attendant for the birth, and to discuss this with her clients;
provide all her clients considering home birth with the Homebirth Handbook for Midwifery Clients and ask them to sign the Home Birth Informed Consent;
provide the College with a copy of her Home Birth Transport Plan;
arrange for approved second attendants to attend home births in a timely manner and, in future,
not to attend a home birth unless she knows she is able to arrange the timely attendance of an approved second attendant for that birth;
advise her clients to go to hospital if she is unable to arrange for the timely attendance of an
approved second birth attendant or if there is a risk that the second attendant may not arrive atthe delivery in a timely way;
call an ambulance for backup and arrange for transport to hospital if she believes that the second
attendant will not arrive on time and the birth is imminent;
call an ambulance when transfer to hospital is needed to ensure safety, even if her client indicates unwillingness to follow her recommendation;
consult an obstetrician, and transport in a timely way for post-partum hemorrhage and/or retained placenta, and transport by ambulance whenever possible;
establish an IV in cases of retained placenta and/or a post-partum hemorrhage not immediately
responsive to therapy, especially when distance to hospital is a factor;
notify the hospital that a home birth is in progress once the client is in established labour, and
notify the hospital when the delivery has been completed;
take an emergency skills course at the earliest opportunity, and no later than within 12 months of
signing the consent agreement;
carry out chart reviews of care she has provided within the department of midwifery at the
Kootenay Lake Hospital on at least a quarterly basis; and
ensure accurate and complete documentation in her records.