Testimonials
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"This is an inspiring biography that highlights Dr. Darrell Martin’s journey from medical student to midwifery advocate, challenging traditional medical norms. His story is a compelling call to action for transformation in maternal and child care."
— Ryan A.
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"Dr. Darrell Martin's narrative in In Good Hands captivates readers with his fight against conventional medical practices to support midwifery. It's an enlightening read showcasing how determination can lead to significant changes in healthcare."
— Paige D.
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"This book provides a vivid look into Dr. Darrell Martin's commitment to reforming healthcare by advocating for midwifery and better birth rights. His story is a powerful testament to the impact of steadfast belief and perseverance in healthcare."
— Alee A.
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"In Good Hands tells the story of one man's faith journey to the discovery of his purpose...both as a person and a physician. </br> </br> The journey proved more difficult than he could have imagined, but Darrell Martin had faithful companions who willingly joined him on that trek. With the loving support of his wife, Sandy, staunch commitment of midwife colleagues, Susan Sizemore and Vicki Henderson Burslem, and steadfast, wise counsel of Irwin Venick, who skillfully represented them throughout the 11-year litigation, the eventual outcome with its national and personal impact made their long journey together worth the fight. <br> <br> I guarantee you will be inspired!"
— Diana J. Blondeau, CMPE.
Practice Administrator (Retired)
Southern Crescent Women’s Healthcare -
“I am proud of you for writing this! But I’m more proud of the man that I am reading about and that I get to know you!”
— Warren Prehmus
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BookLife Review.
Powerful tribute to natural childbirth and patient-centered care.
Great for fans of Ina May Gaskin’s “Spiritual Midwifery”, and Peggy Vincent’s “Baby Catcher”.
“This heartfelt debut memoir touches on Martin’s tumultuous career in the field of obstetrics and his never-ending fight to prove midwifery an equally sustainable and safe practice in delivering babies during the 1970s and ‘80s. From the first pages, Martin details the exceptional care that midwives offer — often in contrast to the medical systems more cold and detached policies - while building his history as a practicing physician, always cognizant of his influence on the birthing process. A true companion for midwifery, Martin experiences the highs and lows of fighting for a cause that hospital administrators often vilify: “Maybe someday things will change,” he writes “all I know is that we can’t stop fighting.”
Martin concludes both tender and humorous moments that transform this memoir into a warm, intimate encounter, such as when he announces over the intercom in his new practice, “I’m about to take out someone’s IUD, and I have no clamps. . . how am I supposed to get this thing out, with my teeth?” Even among the barrage of devastating hospital policies that derail his work, Martin is careful to highlight the human side of his career, tackling the most delicate - but weighty - of topics, like his ever-present astonishment at “the miracle of life,” or the many cases of abuse and domestic violence that he encountered throughout his years as an OB/GYN.
Martin’s Christian faith plays a foundational role in his work, and he notes the spiritual framework of not just his beliefs, but also his professional decisions, writing that he discovered “peace in the fact that God was in control . . . (that) being a servant to others was how I wanted to build my practice.” That compassionate perspective serves as his rudder in a challenging field, as he and his nurse-wife colleagues go on to fight the battle for birth rights on a national level. This is a beautiful tribute to natural childbirth and patient-centered care.”
Publisher’s Weekly
November 4, 2024