Jennifer Williams, a Shelbyville, Ind., midwife, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to practicing midwifery without a license, the AP/Louisville Courier-Journal reports (AP/Louisville Courier-Journal, 6/16). Williams in June 2005 conducted the home birth of an infant who died. Williams faced charges of practicing medicine and midwifery without a license but did not face criminal charges of causing or contributing to the infant's death. Indiana prohibits the practice of midwifery by individuals other than licensed doctors or nurses with specialized training in obstetrics (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/25). Williams will serve one year on probation and, upon completion, could petition to have the felony conviction changed to a misdemeanor, Shelby County prosecutor Kent Apsley said. Williams will not be allowed to practice medicine or midwifery during the probation, Apsley added. "It is my hope that my case will illuminate the problems with the archaic midwifery laws in Indiana," Williams said, adding that she will spend time supporting attempts to revise the state's midwifery laws. According to Mary Ayres, president of the Indiana Midwives Association, Williams' case will allow Indiana to focus on removing laws that are "nonsensical and don't promote anyone's safety" (AP/Louisville Courier-Journal, 6/16).

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