Midwife charged in DC? Karen Carr, CPM...

[Anonymous]

One fact I learned today -- that comes from the statement of facts agreed upon by the plea deal -- is that Carr tried for 20 minutes to free the baby's head and then another 13 minutes to resuscitate the baby before calling 911. Waiting 33 minutes to get additional medical help is inexcusable. I was supportive of her until I learned that.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Why would one wait, especially during those resuscitating minutes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One fact I learned today -- that comes from the statement of facts agreed upon by the plea deal -- is that Carr tried for 20 minutes to free the baby's head and then another 13 minutes to resuscitate the baby before calling 911. Waiting 33 minutes to get additional medical help is inexcusable. I was supportive of her until I learned that.

Shocking. Do you know if any of these details will be made available to the general public?

[Anonymous]

I think we should start a poll to see how long it is before KC is practicing midwifery in VA. My money is on weeks. Some people may think that OBs have a God complex -- this birther lady totally does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One fact I learned today -- that comes from the statement of facts agreed upon by the plea deal -- is that Carr tried for 20 minutes to free the baby's head and then another 13 minutes to resuscitate the baby before calling 911. Waiting 33 minutes to get additional medical help is inexcusable. I was supportive of her until I learned that.

I would venture to say if the baby's heart was still beating strongly during those 20 minutes, then maybe, just maybe I would've waited for the head to come out to see if the baby was breathing in order to assess whether or not to call the paramedics (these are strong maybes). However, trying to resuscitate a baby for 13 minutes and THEN calling 911 - totally inexcusable and negligent. A good (or even, competent) provider knows when to say, "this is beyond my scope and skill level and I need additional support".

You know, I hadn't ruled out hiring Carr for my own delivery in the past, but with this little piece of information, I never would. NEVER. What poor judgement on the part of the provider (and further proof that pushing CPMs underground only further perpetuates their fear in calling in for back up support). CPMs should be legal, and regulated and be forced to carry malpractice insurance just as any other medical/nursing provider would. This case only further demonstrates the need for regulation.

[Anonymous]

It is in the Washington Post article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/midwife_pleads_guilty_to_felonies_in_death_of_alexandria_newborn/2011/05/05/AFetRQ2F_story.html?nav=emailpage

The fact that she was ordered by the court to return the $3200 fee she charged is shocking. She needed a court to tell her to return that fee to the family?!?!

I love the quote about "coveted" services. Really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think we should start a poll to see how long it is before KC is practicing midwifery in VA. My money is on weeks. Some people may think that OBs have a God complex -- this birther lady totally does.

She got a four year prison sentence suspended for time served (5 days). If she is caught delivering babies in VA again she'll violate probation and immediately go to jail. I don't think even Karen is that ballsy, but I could be wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we should start a poll to see how long it is before KC is practicing midwifery in VA. My money is on weeks. Some people may think that OBs have a God complex -- this birther lady totally does.

She got a four year prison sentence suspended for time served (5 days). If she is caught delivering babies in VA again she'll violate probation and immediately go to jail. I don't think even Karen is that ballsy, but I could be wrong.

WHAT!!!! Five days???????

[Anonymous]

So Karen was cleared on the involuntary manslaughter charge? Does anyone have details?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One fact I learned today -- that comes from the statement of facts agreed upon by the plea deal -- is that Carr tried for 20 minutes to free the baby's head and then another 13 minutes to resuscitate the baby before calling 911. Waiting 33 minutes to get additional medical help is inexcusable. I was supportive of her until I learned that.

I support midwives, I support home birth, and I can understand that emergency situations are stressful and unpredictable. However, not calling 911 while trying to resuscitate a baby seems extremely negligent to me. I am very sad for everyone involved in this traumatic case.

[Anonymous]

Not calling 911 first is insanity (and utter negligence). It's the first step of CPR that you learn in any CPR course. CALL 911. Then and only then begin attempts at resuscitation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One fact I learned today -- that comes from the statement of facts agreed upon by the plea deal -- is that Carr tried for 20 minutes to free the baby's head and then another 13 minutes to resuscitate the baby before calling 911. Waiting 33 minutes to get additional medical help is inexcusable. I was supportive of her until I learned that.

I support midwives, I support home birth, and I can understand that emergency situations are stressful and unpredictable. However, not calling 911 while trying to resuscitate a baby seems extremely negligent to me. I am very sad for everyone involved in this traumatic case.

I have been in shoulder dystocias, postpartum hemmorrhages and emergency c-sections before...even ONE minute feels like an eternity during those cases. But 33 minutes is negligent and as the WP article says, criminal. What a shame that there was a doula and birth assistant also there and not one person intervened to say, "you know, can we get you some back-up help"? Yes, I understand their role in the clinical sense is tenuous at best, but if you've been a doula or birth assistant for months or years, you know when things have gone awry and aren't looking good. Ultimately, it was the midwife who should've made the call...what a tragedy that she didn't.

I am so relieved that this poor mother does not have to go to court and testify. I hope she will find peace with her decision and the outcome. I hope life will offer her the opportunity to become a mother, if she so desires.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we should start a poll to see how long it is before KC is practicing midwifery in VA. My money is on weeks. Some people may think that OBs have a God complex -- this birther lady totally does.

She got a four year prison sentence suspended for time served (5 days). If she is caught delivering babies in VA again she'll violate probation and immediately go to jail. I don't think even Karen is that ballsy, but I could be wrong.

You have to be an RN to be a midwife in PA and according to the In Service to Women (*cough*bullshit*cough) website for Karen Carr she has been delivering for years in PA. So even if she doesn't deliver in VA she will be delivering, illegally, in PA. This I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One fact I learned today -- that comes from the statement of facts agreed upon by the plea deal -- is that Carr tried for 20 minutes to free the baby's head and then another 13 minutes to resuscitate the baby before calling 911. Waiting 33 minutes to get additional medical help is inexcusable. I was supportive of her until I learned that.

Can you provide any sort of source for this? I am going to have nightmares about this for a long time to come. If this is true....poor little baby.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not calling 911 first is insanity (and utter negligence). It's the first step of CPR that you learn in any CPR course. CALL 911. Then and only then begin attempts at resuscitation.

Actually, for infants, you start rescue breathing first, and then call. But what I'm wondering is this-- there were other folks there, a birth assistant and the father, and perhaps others... no one thought it would be a good idea to pick up the phone and call 911? How can anyone stand there and watch someone do CPR for 13 minutes and not call 911?