This year’s attempt to give midwives professional standing in the eyes of the state hits familiar obstacles in the state senate.
Senator John Loudon says he has made a lot of concession since last year’s attempt blew up on him. He wants to create a state midwives board that will certify midwives for legal practice in Missouri. "Essentially, home birth is a felony," he tells the Senate.
Oh, no it’s not, says Seantor Chuck Graham, who says there’s no law making home birth a felony. "There are lots of peoplw ho are born at home but people are not chargerd with felonies for being born at home, nor are their parents," he maintains.
Loudon blames the Missouri Medical Association, the state doctor’s organization, for his annual failures to get a bill approved. He charges doctors want to keep midwives from taking away some of their business..
The dispute about who will regulate midwives has forced Loudon’s bill to the sidelines.
Download Bob Priddy’s story (:62 mp3)
