Birth center again investigated

By Sharon Salyer

Herald Writer

An Arlington birthing center is again being investigated by the state Health Department, which alleges that three women gave birth there last fall after the facility’s license had been suspended.

A total of four women were treated at the WomanCare Clinic and Midwifery Services between Sept. 12 and Oct 23, three of whom delivered babies there, according to the state.

The official statement of charges, released Tuesday, alleges that the care the women received amounted to operating a childbirth center without a license. Its operating license could now be suspended or revoked, said Byron Plan, a facilities and services licensing manager for the Health Department.

The birthing center is operated by Christine Campbell, a nurse midwife whose own professional license was suspended by the state in July following an investigation into the death of an infant in her care.

Attorney John Schedler, who is representing the clinic and assisting in Campbell’s case, said that she has not been involved in patient care since that time and was not involved in the latest cases.

Paula Meyer, who heads the state’s Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission, agreed that Campbell was not involved.

"This was done in good faith," Schedler said of the midwives who cared for the patients in labor. "It wasn’t done secretly or an attempt to evade" the law.

"They did not believe they were breaking the law. I don’t think they were breaking the law," he added.

The birthing center is below the minimum threshold for deliveries that subject it to state Health Department regulations, Schedler claimed.

The care allegedly was given to the women after the state suspended the license of WomanCare Clinic and Midwifery Service Inc. Campbell is vice president of the business.

None of the patients is listed by name. The state says the births occurred at 12:25 a.m. Sept. 12, 9:50 p.m. Oct. 3 and 4:53 a.m. Oct. 23.

A fourth patient in labor was admitted at 2:45 a.m. Oct. 23, but delivered a baby at an unnamed hospital at 7:55 p.m. the same day.

"We’re alleging that the childbirths were allowed to happen in the facility for which (Campbell) is partially responsible" while it had a suspended license, Plan said.

You can call Herald Writer Sharon Salyer at 425-339-3486

or send e-mail to salyer@heraldnet.com.

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