HARRISBURG – Legislation offered from Allegheny County Rep. Arvind Venkat would establish requirements for lay midwives. The proposal would require lay midwives, who do not have to meet training, certification or licensure requirements that licensed Certified Nurse-Midwives and Certified Midwives must meet, to provide informed consent forms to patients that explain the lay midwife’s qualifications and training. Venkat said the proposal would ensure that mothers understand the maternal care they are receiving and make the process safer and more transparent to protect both mothers and their babies. Consent forms would also require clarification that a lay midwife cannot prescribe medication and that the lay midwife has a written plan to address issues that may occur during labor. The measure will include an exception for members of religious groups whose practice would be infringed by these requirements. A co-sponsorship memo is being circulated to seek support of the legislation.
REP. ARVIND VENKAT