The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 94

LOCAL NEWS WEATHER EDITORIAL PAGES SECTION ORANGE COUNTY MONDAY JANUARY 6. 1992 CCt Cos Angelee 3Rmes HIGHLIGHTS State Regulation of Birthing Centers Urged Health: Lack of specialists, lifesaving equipment and inspections alarms critics of these alternatives to maternity wards. By BILL BILLITER TIMES STAFF WRITER The concept of birthing centers a less expensive alternative to hospital maternity wards is catching on in Southern California. But no one knows for sure how rapidly, or how well, the centers take care of mothers and babies. That is because there is no state licensing or inspection of the centers, and no agency regularly keeps track of them.

"If someone gave you a figure on how many birthing centers there are, don't believe it because no official records are kept on these centers," said Janie Cordray, spokeswoman for the Medical Board of California. Critics say California's lack of licensing and state inspection is among the flaws and potential dangers of the centers, where babies are delivered with an assist by state -registered nurse-midwives. The lack of specialists and hospital lifesaving equipment particularly alarms some critics in traditional medicine. "The potential for damage is enormous in obstetrics cases," Cordray said. But supporters say birthing centers a phenomenon that began to gain in national popularity in the 1970s are safe, 1 REGIONAL REPORT beneficial, low-cost ways of meeting an urgent health care need in the state.

In December, 1989, the Columbia University School of Public Health in New York reported that a two-year study of birthing centers nationwide showed them to be "a safe and acceptable alternative to hospital confinement" for low-risk pregnant women. "Birthing centers provide low-cost, satisfying care for the consumers," said Roberta Frank, a nurse-midwife who heads the Best Start Birth Center Inc. in San Diego. "A lot of critics have absolutely no idea of the high quality of care women receive at birthing centers." But the critics, which include the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, say consumers do not really know what they are getting when they pick a birthing center, especially if such centers are not licensed. In California, there not only is no licensing of birthing centers, there also is no legal definition of what constitutes one.

Businesses that call themselves "birthing centers" in California range from fly-by-night storefront operations to carefully monitored, multimillion-dollar medical buildings. Eight deaths of infants occurred in one of the smaller birthing centers. It was operated by a Valencia doctor and resulted in his conviction for second-degree murder in 1990. Supporters of birthing centers say that that case was an aberration and that the doctor did not operate a genuine birthing center. Although no official tallies are kept, Los Angeles County is believed to have at least six birthing centers.

Orange County has three, San Diego and San Bernardino counties Please see BIRTH, B12 FOCUS Ann MacKellar isn't shy about speaking her mind. The San Clemente resident recently told the City Council in no uncertain terms that conditions in, her neighborhood were deteriorating. The outspoken octogenarian has some definite beliefs about independence and keeping active. B3 BIRTHING CENTERS: This alternative to hospital maternity wards is catching on, but critics are alarmed by the lack of licensing and inspections, and of specialists and lifesaving equipment. Bl SHOOTOUT WITH POLICE: A Huntington Beach man who claimed he was being pursued by drug dealers was arrested outside his seaside apartment after a five-hour standoff with officers.

Bl MARINE AVIATION: A museum at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station is becoming one of the nation's best museums of Marine aircraft and aviation memorabilia. Bl RENDERING A VERDICT: The new presiding judge of the Superior Court believes "a change in the legal culture" is needed to make the system more efficient. B4 WHALE WATCHING: Migrating gray whales are making their way past the Orange County coast toward the waters off Baja California. Their numbers have grown, and they might be taken off the endangered species list, but rules limit how close the public can get to the large mammals. B5 MARK BOSTER Los Angeles Times Lt.

Col. Jim Rogers, director of museum, leans on Iraqi Bell helicopter captured by Marines in Kuwait. Marines Capture Past Aviation Museum at El Toro Base Displays Corps' Memorabilia Gunman Opens Fire on Police, Then Gives Up Shootout: Officers responded to a 91 1 call from the suspect, who sounded disoriented and said he had been kidnaped. The incident ended peacefully five tense hours later. By LYNN SMITH TIMES STAFF WRITER HUNTINGTON BEACH-An out-of-work equipment operator shot at police from his seaside apartment early Sunday, then talked with police negotiators for nearly five hours before finally surrendering.

About 50 police' officers, including hostage negotiation and SWAT teams, descended on the low-rent building in the 600 block of Walnut Avenue before dawn, finally arresting Kent Leroy Maynard, 40, about 10 a.m. on suspicion of assaulting an officer and a neighbor with a deadly weapon, Police Lt. Ed McErlain said. Apparently confused, Maynard claimed to be pursued by drug dealers and several times shouted that he could not find work, witnesses said. "He will be interviewed and evaluated," McErlain said.

"We don't know his mental condition, whether he has mental problems, was intoxicated or on drugs." Although two shots entered neighbors' apartments, and the alley outside Maynard's first-floor apartment was littered with more than two dozen bullet shells and one rifle cartridge, no one was hurt in the rainy morning shootout. Police first responded to a 911 call from Maynard's Please see GUNMAN, B7 Chairman Is New, Problems Are Old Supervisors: Roger Stanton will head board during what might be its most trying year yet as budget, jail crises threaten. By ERIC LICHTBLAU TIMES STAFF WRITER SANTA ANA When Roger R. Stanton was last chairman of the Board of Supervisors five years ago, he was wrestling with dire budget forecasts, the political hornet's nest of finding a location for a new jail and the question of whether he should run for Congress. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

As Stanton prepares to take over the helm of the board again next week, the county is in many ways no closer to answers on any of these questions than it was in 1987. In fact, some believe the dilemmas have reached near-crisis proportions. With the full heaping of problems on the county plate, some county officials say that the board chairmanship once considered a "plum" could prove more of a burden than ever before. "This should be the most difficult year in the county's history," Supervisor Don R. Roth said bluntly.

"I'm glad it's going to be Roger Stanton as chairman and not Don Roth." Stanton, for his part, appears ready for his third stint since 1983 as chairman, a one-year job that is rotated among the five supervisors. "I'm not going to be changing Please see STANTON, B7 Rogers. "Marines make up a large proportion of our visitors," Rogers said of the 1,000 people monthly who come to the El Toro Historical Center and Command Museum in the southwest corner of the base. "Many are parents of Marines who served as aviators or the children of parents who served." The museum, supported by donations and proceeds from the gift shop, is free and open Wednesdays through Sundays. Many commanders at El Toro and Tustin bring their squadrons to the museum as part of military instruction.

Civilian researchers use the books, manuals and videos. But above all, visitors come to see the planes, which range from a torpedo bomber such as President Bush flew during World War II to a sleek RF-4 Phantom jet. Please see MUSEUM, B5 By GEORGE FRANK TIMES STAFF WRITER EL TORO It's a display of the swift, the highflying and the unusual. Sitting among the famous Marine fighter planes featured at an aviation museum here are an odd, bullet-riddled car that helped spark the U.S. invasion of Panama and a chocolate-brown helicopter taken from Iraqi soldiers during the Persian Gulf War.

The fledgling museum that opened in June at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station is quickly becoming one of the best collections of Marine aircraft and aviation memorabilia in the nation. Since its official opening six months ago, people from all pver the world have viewed the displays, historical photographs and paintings, the research center and the gift shop, according to museum director Lt. Col. Jim ON THE RECORD "This should be the most difficult year in the county's history. I'm glad it's going to be Roger Stanton as chairman and not Don Roth." Supervisor Don R.

Roth, on colleague Roger R. Stanton taking over as chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Bl 1 LOTTERY RESULTS Jan. 4 Saturday's Winning Numbers 5-18-20-25-28-3 $4.5 million Super Lotto Jackpot Winners per Category Getting Ther Visitors headed for the Historical Center and' Command Museum at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station' should go tp the main gate on TrabucoRoad and ask for a pass to the museum. The museum Is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.th to' 4 p.m.

There is np charge, Group tours and Information are available If you call ahead at (714)726-4380. The museum has a Ipft shop. $0 151 $1,359 5of6 $63 8.433 4of6 $5 148,925 3of6 The Big Spin Maria Faucillon, Duarte, David Solorio, South Gate, $25,000: Naomi Wilson, Altadena, Birgit Hasselbarth, Brea, $25,000, and Kenneth Wayman, South San Francisco. $25,000. Kinow O'Neal tries out flight simulator as mother, friends look on.

Los Angeles Times Recorded Information 213-976-4275 213-976-5275 English Spanish Signaling a Turn Is Not Only a Good Turn, It's the Law Lottery regional offices Whittier (818)459-4300 Orange (714)938-4500 San Diego (619)492-1 700 Due to technical difficulties, the air quality report was not available for publication in today's editions or The Times. STREET SMART going to turn into the next driveway or at the next corner? Maybe signaling is going the same way as other courtesies like saying thank you. Richard C. Doyle Santa Ana. Both readers make good points.

Signaling is a courtesy and sometimes a requirement that can help prevent accidents. Signaling is required by law for those making a turn into a driveway or at an intersection. It must come 100 feet before the turn, according to Ken Daily, spokesman for the California Highway Please see STREET, B7 commence at least five seconds before the move. This will help other drivers slow down enough to allow a safe lane change and prevent accidents that happen when two cars try to change into the same lane. Jay Doraiswaml Huntington Beach Dear Street Smart: Have people completely forgotten how to use their turn signals? Or have I missed something and signaling before turning is no longer part of the California Vehicle Code? Isn't common courtesy a good enough reason to let the person in the vehicle behind you know that you are By DANNY SULLIVAN TIMES STAFF WRITER Dear Readers: There's still time to send in resolutions you would like to see traffic planners, police officers and other officials adopt in the New Year to improve the commute.

Submissions will appear in next week's column. Meanwhile, this week's column starts off with two pleas that more drivers signal before changing lanes or turning. Dear Street Smart: One of the easiest-to-follow rules is INDEX Orange County Focus B6 also the most ignored. As a consequence, it has the highest potential for causing accidents on the freeway. I'm talking about signaling before a lane change.

Most people signal after starting the lane transition or just before. A signal is a show of intention and should Weather B9 ScienceMedicine BIO Letters B4 l' Where to Reach Us.