Kentucky Board of Nursing Sues Direct Entry Midwife

Mary Ann Watson, of Bourbon County Kentucky, has been practicing as a direct entry midwife for over fifteen years. This page is dedicated to the reports of her persecution by the Kentucky Board of Nursing and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Watson had attended more than 120 births since moving to Kentucky. She is not being charged with neglect or maltreatment of a mother or child. This law suit stems from a complaint filed by her ex-husband during divorce proceedings. The complaint was originally filed with the Board of Medical Liscensure, but unable to find anything to charge Watson with, they gave the information to the Board of Nursing.

The Kentucky Board of Nursing is trying to claim that Watson is practing Nursing without a liscence and obtain an injunction to force her to quit the practice of Midwifery. However, the Commonwealth of Kentucky very clearly defines the difference between nursing, midwifery and nurse-midwifery.

Original Complaint by the KY Board of Nursing

Answer to the Original Complaint (Includes Statutes)

For Information on the Midwifery Defense Fund