Pennsylvania mothers deserve the highest quality of medical care, especially when giving birth. In these precious and vulnerable moments, mothers need to know that the person they are seeking care from is professional and competent. Currently, Pennsylvania law permits lay midwives to attend births. However, lay midwives are not required to meet training, certification, or licensure requirements that licensed Certified Nurse-Midwives and Certified Midwives must meet.
 
We have a responsibility to make sure that every mother is informed about the care that they are receiving, which is why I plan to introduce legislation (attached) that would require a lay midwife to provide each patient with an informed consent form that would explain the lay midwife’s qualifications and training, which the patient would sign. The form would also include information explaining that a lay midwife is not licensed by the state and cannot prescribe medication, as well as a written plan to address issues that may occur during labor. My legislation includes an exception for a member of a religious group whose practices would be infringed by this requirement.
 
Please join me in sponsoring this legislation to make sure that every mother understands what maternal care she is receiving.