Senate File 2128 - Introduced SENATE FILE 2128 BY BOLKCOM A BILL FOR An Act relating to midwives and the practice of midwifery and 1 making a penalty applicable. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 5078XS (2) 86 tr/nh
S.F. 2128 Section 1. Section 147.1, Code 2016, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsections: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 3A. “Midwife” means a person who is 3 trained to give the necessary care and advice to women during 4 pregnancy, labor, and the post-birth period, to conduct normal 5 deliveries on the midwife’s own responsibility, and to care 6 for the newly born infant, and who is able to recognize the 7 warning signs of abnormal conditions requiring referral to or 8 collaboration with a physician. 9 NEW SUBSECTION . 3B. “Midwifery” means the practice of 10 attending women experiencing low-risk pregnancies during 11 pregnancy, labor, and the post-birth period with the informed 12 consent of the woman, and the provision of comprehensive care 13 of the pregnant woman during the antepartal phase, intrapartal 14 phase, and postpartal phase, and the application of emergency 15 care when necessary. 16 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 147.151 Midwifery not a public offense 17 —— use of false title prohibited. 18 Acting as a midwife, referring to oneself as a midwife, or 19 practicing midwifery shall not constitute a public offense. 20 A midwife shall not identify as a member of a profession 21 licensed under this chapter or otherwise use a professional 22 title or abbreviation designated for a licensed professional 23 in this chapter. A midwife who falsely claims by the use of 24 any professional title or abbreviation to be a practitioner of 25 a profession licensed under this chapter shall be guilty of a 26 simple misdemeanor as provided in section 147.74, subsection 1. 27 EXPLANATION 28 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 29 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 30 This bill defines the terms “midwife” and “midwifery” and 31 states that anyone acting or holding oneself out as a midwife 32 or practicing midwifery shall not have committed a public 33 offense by doing so. 34 The bill prohibits midwives from using the titles or 35 -1- LSB 5078XS (2) 86 tr/nh 1/ 2
S.F. 2128 abbreviations of professionals licensed under Code chapter 147. 1 A midwife who does use such a title or abbreviation shall be 2 guilty of a simple misdemeanor. 3 -2- LSB 5078XS (2) 86 tr/nh 2/ 2