This message is from Cathy Liles, you can't post from her own computer at
the moment!

>
>Subject: Touching mothers and babies
>
>The legal advice I have been given is that written permission is
>better than oral, but oral can stand up in a court. The most important
>thing in providing respectful care to women and babies is to also be
>sensitive to their comfort leval- if they don't like what you are
>doing STOP! If they seem uncomfortable with you touching their baby or
>their body ask them what type of assistance they would be comfortable
>with.  I have been refused permission by mothers many times. There are
>some moms who don't want anyone touching their babies, others who have
>issues related to sexual abuse or their own personal modesty, I have
>seen mothers refuse to allow touching because the health care provider
>was coughing, had an open, uncovered sore or failed to wash their
>hands.  This is mostly an issue of interpersonal communication and
>appropriate care provision rather than a legal issue. I think most law
>suits involve some type of antagonistic/disrespectful interationc with
>health care provider if you look carefully. I'd also like to say that
>we should be accountable for gross negligence.  Cathy Liles
>