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MIDWIFERY IS NOT MEDICINE,
COURT SAYS
Midwife's Cease and Desist Order Reversed
"Yes, Pennsylvania, there is a Santa Claus!" says Nancy Wainer
On Friday, May 23, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania reversed the September 2007
decision of the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine which ordered Lancaster County midwife, Diane
Goslin, to cease and desist from the practice of midwifery.
In a surprising blow to the Board of Medicine, the Commonwealth Court opined that,
"...practicing midwifery cannot be construed to be the same as practicing medicine and surgery."
The Board had contended that Goslin was in violation of the 1985 Medical Practice Act by
practicing medicine without a license.
The Court further pointed out that the 1985 Act, "...authorizes the Board to impose penalties only
upon persons who practice as a nurse-midwife without a nurse-midwife license." Goslin is a
Certified Professional Midwife.
COURT SAYS
Midwife's Cease and Desist Order Reversed
"Yes, Pennsylvania, there is a Santa Claus!" says Nancy Wainer
On Friday, May 23, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania reversed the September 2007
decision of the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine which ordered Lancaster County midwife, Diane
Goslin, to cease and desist from the practice of midwifery.
In a surprising blow to the Board of Medicine, the Commonwealth Court opined that,
"...practicing midwifery cannot be construed to be the same as practicing medicine and surgery."
The Board had contended that Goslin was in violation of the 1985 Medical Practice Act by
practicing medicine without a license.
The Court further pointed out that the 1985 Act, "...authorizes the Board to impose penalties only
upon persons who practice as a nurse-midwife without a nurse-midwife license." Goslin is a
Certified Professional Midwife.
Rate of Severe
Complications following
C-Section Rising
The rate of birth by cesarean section in the United States
has now risen above 31%. C-section is major surgery
that carries with it many risks, including, "infections,
hemorrhage, transfusion, injury to other organs,
anesthesia complications, psychological complications,
and a maternal mortality two to four times greater than
that for a vaginal birth." (childbirth.org)
This alarming increase in surgical birth is now being
accompanied by an increase in the incidence of severe,
even fatal, maternal complications. Between 1999 and
2005 there was a, "20 percent increase in rates of kidney
failure, respiratory distress syndrome, shock, and the
need for a ventilator," according to a study reported in the
Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. (Rita Rubin, USA
Today)
Complications following
C-Section Rising
The rate of birth by cesarean section in the United States
has now risen above 31%. C-section is major surgery
that carries with it many risks, including, "infections,
hemorrhage, transfusion, injury to other organs,
anesthesia complications, psychological complications,
and a maternal mortality two to four times greater than
that for a vaginal birth." (childbirth.org)
This alarming increase in surgical birth is now being
accompanied by an increase in the incidence of severe,
even fatal, maternal complications. Between 1999 and
2005 there was a, "20 percent increase in rates of kidney
failure, respiratory distress syndrome, shock, and the
need for a ventilator," according to a study reported in the
Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. (Rita Rubin, USA
Today)
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