The Washington state Department of Health has suspended the license of Laura A. Hamilton, a Lewis County midwife, alleging that Hamilton did not meet the standard of care putting the health of mothers and babies at risk.
Documents from the case detail her interactions with four different patients and describe how Hamilton’s behavior constituted “unprofessional conduct” in violation of state law.
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Charges state that Hamilton didn’t provide adequate patient care, assessment, appropriate screening for drug use and didn’t recognize symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome, which occurs when a baby experiences withdrawal from exposure to narcotics.
The charges also address the death of a stillborn infant, permanent injury to a patient’s newborn, and delayed assessment and treatment for drug withdrawal in a newborn, according to a press release from the Department of Health.
Hamilton has 20 days to respond to the charges and request a hearing, and cannot practice midwifery in Washington state until the case is resolved.