Some of you who have been reading this blog might remember our incredible natural childbirth story from last June after Ephrata Hospital and Aetna failed us miserably. The midwife who (literally) saved the day for us went on to suffer at the hands of the PA Board Of Medicine in court for months, as they tried to "make an example" out of her so as to put a damper on the growing homebirth movement in Pennsylvania. Our family attended a rally held for Diane in December of last year. Well, I'm extremely happy to report that Diane Goslin of Lancaster County has won a complete reversal of the "charges" against her in Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court! Here's the press release, courtesy of Pennsylvania Families For Safe Birth:
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In a stinging blow to both the Pennsylvania Medical Board and the Pennsylvania Medical Society, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court reversed all three rulings the PA Board of Medicine had issued against Diane Goslin:
- The Cease and Desist Order;
- the $10,000 fine for the unlicensed practice of medicine; and
- the $1,000 fine for the unlicensed practice of midwifery.
Pennsylvania midwife Diane Goslin may now legally attend births.
PA Commonwealth Court Justice Friedman opined that "practicing midwifery cannot be construed to be the same as practicing medicine..." Therefore, the court reversed the egregious and erroneous PA Board of Medicine ruling.
Additionally, the Court found that the PA medical"Board deprived [Diane Goslin] of due process" rights as required by Pennsylvania law.
The Court further pointed out that the 1985 PA Nurse-Midwifery Act, "...authorizes the Board to impose penalties only upon persons who practice as a nurse-midwife without a nurse-midwife license." Goslin practices as a Certified Professional Midwife.
PA Commonwealth Ruling
News Releases
Harrisburg News
Philadelphia News
York Daily Record
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You can read more about homebirth and the grassroots movement at the Save HomeBirth web site
All Susan and I can say is "woohoo" for Diane!
Oh, and by the way Carys is doing wonderfully & is getting her first tooth at 11 months...
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