Reinforcing the Truth

As I write today I am sad to say that I have been in contact with another mother who has had a bad experience with Paula. She is not ready to give a formal complaint on this blog yet, but I am assured that her family is preparing one.

Today I am pondering the definition of the word Incompetence.

Wikipedia states that Competence is the ability to perform a specific task, action or function successfully. Incompetence is the opposite of competence, or the lack of competence, meaning NOT having the ability to perform a specific task, action or function successfully.

I also am pondering the definition of the word Fraud.

Wikipedia says that Fraud is "an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual.

Then I moved on to Health Fraud and this is what I got:

"Quackery is a derogatory term used to describe unproven or fraudulent medical practices. Random House Dictionary describes a "quack" as a "fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skill" or "a person who pretends, professionally or publicly, to have skill, knowledge, or qualifications he or she does not possess; a charlatan."^[1]

The word "quack" derives from the archaic word "quacksalver," of Dutch origin (spelled kwakzalver in contemporary Dutch), meaning "boaster who applies a salve."^[2] In the Middle Ages the word quack meant "shouting". The quacksalvers sold their wares on the market shouting in a loud voice.^[3]

"Health fraud" is often used as a synonym for quackery, but this use can be problematic, since quackery can exist without fraud, a word which implies deliberate deception."

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So, in recap, someone who pretends to have medical skills that they do not have and is known to shout (or boast) of their services on the open market is called a Quack or someone committing Health Fraud. I'd say its a safe assumption.

Maybe a picture of a big duck in the background is appropriate. Or not.

Then I moved on to Charlatan. This is what is said,

"A charlatan (also called swindler or mountebank) is a person practicing quackery or some similar confidence trick in order to obtain money, fame or other advantages via some form of pretence or deception. The word comes from French charlatan, a seller of medicines who might advertise his presence with music and an outdoor stage show."

Huh. So a quack, or a charlatan, practices 'tricks' to obtain money via pretence of a service or security that he or she does not possess. Yet this charlatan sells and advertises with a 'song and dance' or a pretence of knowledge that she or he does not securely know.

So how then do we prove someone is a charlatan or Quack in midwifery? I suppose the old idea of three strikes and you're out should work. If you continually prove yourself UN-worthy to possess a lifesaving skill absolutely necessary to the job, you should not be in that job. Period.