client complaints about care

[mothercat]

This is actually more than a question about client complaints, but I'll get to that in a moment.

For midwives, for your state, is there a central person or agency for clients to file complaints against a midwife? I'm assuming CNM clients would file with the licensing board, but what about CPMs, LMs, DEMs, etc.?

Is there a central place where consumers can locate this information?

Are there mandatory reporters in your state? This means that even if the family doesn't wish to file a complaint, are physicians, other midwives, or nurses required to file a report if they think there was an issue of negligence?

I have been to the Oregon Midwife Info site and wonder if anyone has any comments on that site?

Linda, midwife

[gmctree]

I can tell you about two states with CPM licensure: Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Minnesota:

Licensing for midwives in Minnesota  is NOT mandatory.

CPMs can obtain a license as a Licensed Traditional Midwives (LTM) through the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice.

http://mn.gov/health-licensing-boards/medical-practice/public/find-practitioner/docfinder.jsp

The Board of Medical Practice is responsible for reviewing complaints and disciplinary actions.

http://mn.gov/health-licensing-boards/medical-practice/public/complaints/

There are multiple organizations affiliated with CPMs and DEMs in Minnesota:

Minnesota Council of Certified Professional Midwives

http://minnesotamidwives.org/MCCPM/Home.html

Midwifery Now

http://midwiferynow.org/

The Minnesota Midwives Guild

http://214mmguild.simplweb.com/

In Wisconsin, licensing for CPMs is mandatory.

CPMs are licensed as LMs through the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS).

http://dsps.wi.gov/Home

The DSPS is responsible for reviewing complaints and disciplinary actions.

There is one organization affiliated with LMs in Wisconsin:

The Wisconsin Guild of Midwives.

http://wisconsinguildofmidwives.org/

I do not know if there is mandatory reporting in either state. The only complaints I know about have occurred when physicians or other health care providers have reported midwives due to a transfer of care or another concern. I do not know of any parent complaints against midwives made to either state. The state disciplinary actions against midwives are 1) difficult to find, 2) rare. And as far as I know – if there was no disciplinary action taken – there is no public record of the complaint made. Or at least it’s very hard to find. These boards list disciplinary actions only.