Experts are few and far between in Hallowell, making Martha and Doctor’s medical knowledge all the more important, and making Doctor Page’s poor advice especially dangerous. Would you have acted differently in Martha’s place to warn the townspeople about Page?
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Marthas had first-hand knowledge based on her many years of experience. When Dr. Page came in with his superior attitude and pedigree, people were originally impressed and thought he would know everything. Not true! Martha was right when she warned others. His failures also let people know he wasn’t to be trusted.
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Martha’s medical knowledge was the result of past generations of healers who handed down their expertise and learnings. This role was critical to the survival of the people and society. It seemed natural for women to help/midwife birthing and other conditions. Dr. Page represents a shift from centuries of natural care to that driven by textbook and lectures. I thought about Lady Tan and her practice of eastern medicine (Lady Tan’s Circle of Friends) ** I believe there are still cultures in this world wherein the role of healer, whether a woman or a man, is highly regarded and sought. The natural world still provides “medicines.”
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I would definitely warn all of the people. Martha knew what she was doing. She was an experienced midwife. She knew that Dr. Page was not experienced. He made many mistakes and unfortunately some babies did not survive.
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Martha first had many years practicing medicine in Howell and she could relate to and care about her patients and their families. Dr. Page may we have more formal training but his attitude did fit into the community and it took the people who live there a while to know this with some assistance from Martha.
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Dr. Page was a young, 24-year old, arrogant, and inexperienced physician when he arrived in Hallowell and was determined to make obstetrics part of his medical practice. Martha immediately recognized his incompetence when he could not distinguish false spurious pains from active labor and administered 20 drops of Laudanum to a patient in active labor. Later he lied about his actions. In another case, Dr Page bungled the delivery of a breech presentation, resulting in the death of a full term infant. Martha felt obligated to inform his incompetence and bull-headedness.
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The Martha and the Doctor had more expertise in delivering babies. Both had knowledge of berries, herds etc locally grown to treat different maladies. Dr Page had none of this. there were no medications during the story time line.
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He was very dangerous!!
Martha knew more than he did from her experience and her “bedside” manner.
I wouldn’t want Dr. Page to touch me. 
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I totally agree with others who stated that with her MANY years of experience and knowledge she was far superior in treating patients. It happens all the time that these young, arragonant men who have just gratuated from college think they know what is best for everyone. I thought she did a nice job of walkig the line of looking out for her patients, while not completely isolating the community from her.
I absolutely agree that Martha was correct in warning people about Dr. Page. But this was certainly risky, as I can’t believe people, especially men. would take kindly to his being criticized. However, among women, I believe they would have appreciated Martha’s perspective and warning.
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Unfortunately, during that time, I feel a male doctor would be more revered than a female midwife. Although Martha had such knowledge and experience, she was lacking the formal education which made her secondary.