Looking for stories of midwives who have lost their practices

[mamasneedlove]

I'm writing a paper and looking for information on midwives who have been driven out of practice, lost their licenses through litigation or otherwise, or in some way had to end their practices before they were ready.

I've got Peggy Vincent already, and a midwife I know personally, but I'd like to review some more stories. I'm interested in the relationship between the law and the practice of midwifery.

Thanks!

Jen

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by mamasneedlove

I'm writing a paper and looking for information on midwives who have been driven out of practice, lost their licenses through litigation or otherwise, or in some way had to end their practices before they were ready.

I've got Peggy Vincent already, and a midwife I know personally, but I'd like to review some more stories. I'm interested in the relationship between the law and the practice of midwifery.

Thanks!

Jen

Hm. Interesting topic! Well, I practiced as a homebirth midwife in Illinois for almost 20 years. My practice ended in 2001 in a flurry of legal activity, which included two cease and desist orders, and the "indefinite suspension" of my nursing license (I became an RN in 1999). I have not practiced midwifery since 2001, but I did go back to school -- law school -- and am currently licensed to practice law in Illinois. I now provide a lot of support for midwives and midwifery clients with legal issues.

Sooo...."the relationship between the law and the practice of midwifery".... I know a bit about that.

[mamasneedlove]

Ooh, I would LOVE to pick your brain. Can I email you privately in a month or so when I have done more research?

Jen

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by mamasneedlove

Ooh, I would LOVE to pick your brain. Can I email you privately in a month or so when I have done more research?

Jen

Sure. Let me know how I can help.

[rnchrista]

Originally Posted by Valerie

I have not practiced midwifery since 2001, but I did go back to school -- law school -- and am currently licensed to practice law in Illinois. I now provide a lot of support for midwives and midwifery clients with legal issues.

So glad to hear you finished up and are practicing, Valerie! Great news!

Jen, are you aware of this resource? www.fromcallingtocourtroom.net

[Valerie]

Originally Posted by rnchrista

So glad to hear you finished up and are practicing, Valerie! Great news!

Jen, are you aware of this resource? www.fromcallingtocourtroom.net

I did indeed. I graduated from law school and took the Illinois bar exam in 2009. I passed, but it took a little longer than usual to actually be admitted to the Illinois bar, because I had to convince the bar examiners that my sordid past as a midwife really did not make me too dangerous to practice law in Illinois

By the way, my nursing license was actually reinstated a little over a year ago -- I had to petition the state for its reinstatement and retake the NCLEX.

[jljeppson]

Judy Kay Jones from SD has been willing to be interviewed in the past. You can find her case history online and can contact her through South Dakota Safe Childbirth Options and I think she still works with the SD Midwives Guild. She would also have the info on the other midwife that was prosecuted in SD.

[BirthTender]

Story of another midwife

Betty Peckman in IL is another story. Her case happened in IL somewhere around the years 1987-1989. I moved out of the state in 1988. I met her and her then assistant at mnay state midwifery meetings. The assistant is now a CNM & went to the same nurse-midwifery program that I graduated from in 2009.

[mamasneedlove]

Thank you, mamas, for all the suggestions. I am still working on this project, but slowly, as I have a toddler and a preschooler. I still appreciate any and all other suggestions. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Jen

[mamasneedlove]

Originally Posted by rnchrista

So glad to hear you finished up and are practicing, Valerie! Great news!

Jen, are you aware of this resource? www.fromcallingtocourtroom.net

Holy cow, that's awesome! Thank you!

[Rejoicing]

PA and MD have had more than their fair share....
Plenty in PA have been under attack in the past few years. MD homebirth was ruled illegal not too long ago. I know the Frederick Midwives Associates had to leave the area, and they were all CNMs with years of experience delivering at the hospital. ??? You might want to research those areas?