Woodstock woman convicted for unlicensed medical care after near-fatal home birth

A 64-year-old woman from Woodstock was convicted on nine counts of practicing medicine without a license related to a dangerous home birth in 2022, according to the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, which covers Cherokee County, as reported by Atlanta News First.

During the labor and delivery at a Woodstock home, the woman performed several medical procedures she was not licensed to do, including administering Pitocin injections, intravenous fluids, catheter insertion, and a manual uterine procedure, prosecutors said.

The mother suffered significant blood loss after giving birth. Despite her deteriorating condition, the midwife did not inform the family of the emergency and requested a non-emergency medical transport when 911 was eventually called.

By the time emergency services arrived, the mother was vomiting, unconscious, and in hypovolemic shock. Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services stabilized her and took her to the hospital where she received emergency treatment including medication, blood transfusions, and surgery.

Medical experts testified that the woman should have been transferred to a hospital at least five hours earlier based on her symptoms. The jury also heard from two other former clients who reported similar dangerous experiences with the midwife’s practice outside Cherokee County, including one near-fatal childbirth and one infant death.

WSB-TV confirmed the conviction on all counts and noted the woman operated a midwifery business without proper medical credentials.