Childbirth Choices Debate

http://gothamist.com/2009/10/22/famous_midwife_sued_over_stillbirth.php

Famous Midwife Sued Over Stillbirth

A high-profile midwife who was featured in a New York cover story and the documentary The Business of Being Born is being sued by a Manhattan couple who blame her for their baby's death. The midwife, Carla Muhlhahn, is one of the most well-known midwives, and it's not the first time she's been sued; in 2003, she settled a $950,000 lawsuit after a baby was partially paralyzed. In the current lawsuit, Catherine and Ricardo McKenzie accuse Muhlhahn of gross negligence and recklessness during the delivery, which lasted three days in their West 113th Street apartment.

Lawyers for the McKenzies say Muhlhahn (and two midwives assisting her) broke state law by failing to refer Catherine McKenzie to a doctor during the long delivery, even though a hospital was less than two blocks away. They also fault Muhlhahn for failing to have a written practice agreement with a hospital where a licensed doctor could provide care. A heartbreaking comment left on the New York website may be from the McKenzies; according to the Post, the baby had been strangled with her umbilical cord.

Wanna know how famous OBs become famous?  They have the connections to keep their names out of the media when a birth goes wrong.  As well, people aren't as quick to sue an OB as they are a midwife.

edited to add--as much as I like to avoid spam, I also feel the truth needs to be heard.  I signed up to be able to post a comment.

This story kind of baffles me. I really am not sure what to think, but there is one thing that I would like to say about it.

Why is there a sense that this couple was somehow held hostage by the midwives? That's the most puzzling aspect of this case, IMO. If this couple wanted to, they could have called the hospital, or 911, or even put on their coats and walked to the hospital at some point during the labor, given that it was less than two blocks away. I'm surprised that they didn't take it upon themselves to do something, especially if it's true that the midwives were not trying to get help or have Mom moved to the hospital. Did they not realize the baby was in danger? That's all I can think. But it seems like people who would deliberately undertake a homebirth, even with a midwife/wives would be pretty well-versed and knowledgeable themselves, so that's why it surprises me.

<<Why is there a sense that this couple was somehow held hostage by the midwives?>>

That's what I'm wondering, too. Why would they need a referral to go to a hospital?

<<<Why would they need a referral to go to a hospital?>>>

It's a good question, and I hope to find out. I'm not seeing much more news about it online, but I will post it if I do. If anyone else comes across anything, please share it with us!