Women sentenced for practicing unlicensed midwifery

[JI7]

if it's true they never claimed to be midwives are they still guilty ? during a home birth does a midwife have to be present ? what if the woman just wanted her family and friends there and they did everything they felt was necessary for and after the birth ?


<Two women have been sentenced to two and a-half years in prison for their roles in the death of a woman who'd given birth.

The two women had been convicted of practicing unlicensed midwifery in the first known prosecution of the crime in Florida.

Linda McGlade and her daughter-in-law Tanya McGlade were found guilty in April in the death of another daughter-in-law, Mara McGlade. She died of internal bleeding two days after delivering a healthy boy at home in 2004.

The defendants said they never claimed to be midwives, a profession regulated by the state. They said they merely attended an unassisted home birth, which is legal.

But a judge noted that they had checked the heart rate of the fetus, delivered oxygen to the mother and examined the placenta. >

http://www.wbir.com/news/national/story.aspx?storyid=35282

[lindisfarne]

1. There's another site that mentions they didn't call an ambulance when

the mother started having problems; rather, they simply started a prayer circle.
In my opinion, they're lucky not to have been charged with something more serious - in most states, you're required to provide aid to another who needs it - failure to call for medical assistance could easily be considered failure to provide aid.
"Though baby Gabriel was born a healthy 7 pounds, 6 ounces, Mara suffered internal bleeding following the birth. Instead of calling an ambulance immediately, church members held hands and prayed, finally calling for help four hours later. Mara McGlade died two days later."
http://www.courttv.com/trials/taped/mcglade/background_ctv.html

They also apparently represented themselves, which was quite stupid.

[JI7]

4. that makes more sense

for why they were found guilty.

i bet they thought they would get free by praying to God for it.

[LeftyMom]

2. That's not a UC/UB/freebirth

When other women are taking on a medical role- taking measurements, making decisions about how to respond to the results, that's midwifery. In a UC the mother relies on her own sensation and instinct and ability to birth.

[Downtown Hound]

3. These women sound pretty stupid

Religious fanatics that essentially got one of their relatives killed. I've got no sympathy for either of them. Stop praying and start thinking people. The world would be a much better place if we all did.

[wakeme2008]

5. I know a lady that is a licensed midwife in Florida

and her first rule is off to the hospital if any problems. One of my neighbors used her on her first baby and was planning to use her on the second. But she got a blood clot in her leg and had to spend time in the hospital and on blood thinning drugs. Because of the blood thinning drugs they had to induce labor at a point she had been off the drugs xx hours. So a date was set for the birth and the midwife (who was not getting paid at this point) went to the hospital to be with the mother during labor.

So midwifes like doctors, some are good and some are very bad.

[mainer]

6. the mother in law and sister in law were the midwives?

You wonder if that dead woman really had a choice in the matter. Did her mother-in-law insist it be done this way, at home? We all know how influential - nay, overpowering -- mothers in law can be.

[pitohui]

11. that's a joke, right?

yeah, like i listen to my mom in law all the time, she's sooooo influential

i'm not sure how i feel about this, i think family has a right to be around family if they want to do a home birth, you maybe shouldn't have to have a medical degree to help your own daughter in law with a birth?

[Ilsa]

7. I am wondering, if these women were not present, would be

deceased woman have wanted someone else in attendence of the birth? If yes, then to me, they were relied upon to provide some level of "expertise". I don't know if that was misrepresented, but if they were checking out the baby's vital signs and placenta and delivering oxygen to the mother, then they were performing some medical duties. If they had been licensed as midwives, they would have insisted she receive expert medical care and would have called an ambulance for her.

[Spangle]

8. Wrong CALL!

The ladys were correct. I don't agree with the courts on this one.

However, if they wanted to charge the ladys for failing to call the ambulance, getting medical attention for the woman, etc. THAT is different.

I'm not a nurse, never claim to be a nurse, but I 'nurse' my kids all the time. Put band-aids on them, etc. Monitor them, etc. The liablity I hold for my actions, is not by 'nursing', but failing to get them medical help when needed. THAT is what I would be charged with.

Isn't that the same thing? Yes it is.

The issues about the prayer circle, etc.. Leave their religan out of this. I don't care if they prayed or not. It doesn't matter if their religan CALLS for no medical help, the law still says that those around them have to seek it if needed. Or does it? Different everywhere, I suppose.

If the women choose to have an un-attended birth, it's her right. We honestly allow people to not accept medical treatment if they don't want it. Generaly the law doesn't step in, unless we are talking about CHILDREN.

This woman wasn't a child.

[pitohui]

12. yes i think you have it right, spangle

that's my feeling too

[ismnotwasm]

9. This is so sad

The Midwifery had struggled for centuries for legitimacy, (long history, I don't have a link right now)If not out legality. I hate the title of the OP for this reason.

These women certainly were NOT midwives. I don't know if they can be prosecuted as such. I wish those who devoutly, or even fanatically believe in a Higher Power could at least accept the perfectly logical premise that that same omniscient Higher Power also created Hospitals.

The most common deaths in the old days in childbirth were complications from bleeding, infection or Toxemia (Preeclampsia leading to Eclampsia and HELLP syndrome)
I'm not a L and D nurse, but I believe that hasn't changed much. Many women have wonderful experiences with midwives and home births.

These women sound like they prepared up to the point they lost control. Then they turned to prayer, and most likely,
"Gods will" (Did God's will include oxygen?)Still, a very sad story, with a very sad outcome. The story demonstrates the perils of pregancy are alive and well.

[Biernuts]

10. It's not what you claim, it's what you do

I'm no a pimp, I'm an escort executive
I'm not a drug dealer, I'm a recreational therapist
I'm not a murderer, I'm a population control specialist

Looks like the judge broke the code.

[Sgent]

13. Florida State statue 467.003

(8) "Midwifery" means the practice of supervising the conduct of a normal labor and childbirth, with the informed consent of the parent; the practice of advising the parents as to the progress of the childbirth; and the practice of rendering prenatal and postpartal care.

Statue 467.201
Violations and penalties.--Each of the following acts constitutes a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084:

(1) Practicing midwifery, unless holding an active license to do so.

This lady is lucky. An aggressive prosecutor would have had her up on manslaughter or murder charges (commission of a felony which results in a death).