By Steve Walsh

The challenge to the constitutionality of legislation decriminalizing midwifery in Missouri is before a Jefferson City judge. Cole County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Joyce has heard arguments from opponents and supporters of the law, which was slipped into HB 818, a health insurance bill, by Senator John Loudon (R-Chesterfield) in the final days of this year’s session of the General Assembly.

Attorney Harvey Tettlebaum, representing doctors and medical groups opposed to legalizing midwifery, insists there is what is called a Hammerschmidt violation – meaning the midwifery provision was not related to the title of the bill, which was a health insurance bill. The Constitution requires that any part of any bill be related to the bill’s original purpose. Read more…

Comments

comments