A thorough account of the life and work of a key individual in the health care discussions of the 20th century.
By Kerreen M. Reiger ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 31, 2022
Murray Enkin was a Canadian obstetrician who became a leading figure in the movement to reform maternity care. Born in 1924 in Toronto, he was raised to advocate for progressive change, attending the experimental Blatz School. After becoming an obstetrician, he proposed radical innovations in his field, such as prenatal classes for mothers and advocating for a more natural approach to childbirth that assigned an elevated role to midwives. His philosophy emphasized the human elements of childbirth, acknowledging the autonomy of mothers and the importance of their own preferences. He believed childbirth should be seen holistically as an “emotional, sexual, and social experience.”
Reiger’s biography of Enkin captures his contributions to the notion of “family centered maternity care” and how his support of the idea ultimately exerted an international influence. The book can be granular, reading like a dryly narrated curriculum vitae, and it may be questioned if it was necessary to devote so much space to Enkin’s personal life. Nevertheless, it is a captivating picture of the reform movement in maternity care and Enkin’s deeply important contributions to it, presented with impressive scholarly scrupulousness.
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Pub Date: Aug. 31, 2022
ISBN: 9781039109131
Page Count: 482
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2023