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B.C. nursing regulator issues four 'birth attendant' warnings

The college identified four women in the Fraser Valley, Kelowna and Salmon Arm.
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Nurses and midwives in B.C. are regulated by the College of Nurses and Midwives.

The B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives has issued warnings about four individuals who, it says, are presenting themselves as "birth attendants" without being registered with the regulator.

“Nurse and midwife registration verification ensures that only those qualified with the requisite skills and education to be nurses and midwives are employed or practicing in nursing and midwifery positions in British Columbia,” the warnings said.

The notices said Michelle Short and Berkley McNamara of the Fraser Valley and Leila Naderi of Kelowna have held themselves out as birth attendants.

Another notice said Holly Malashewsky of Salmon Arm has held herself out as a "traditional birth keeper."

The college said Short, McNamara and Naderi have never been and are not college registrants and are not entitled to practice as a midwife in B.C.

The notices said the three “may be offering midwifery services and performing restricted activities as set out in the Midwives Regulation, without being permitted to do so.”

The college said Malashewsky is a former licensed practical nurse registrant of the college.

“She has never been a registered midwife registrant of (the college),” a notice said. “She is not entitled to practice as a midwife or as a nurse in British Columbia.”