By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – A bill that would allow midwives to practice in Missouri is all but dead, with only three days left in the 2008 session.
It's too late for the midwifery bill to pass the State Senate and then go through the necessary hearings in the House.
So the bill's sponsor, State Senator John Loudon (R, Chesterfield), has been trying to find a compatible bill that can be amended to include midwifery.
"You know, a lot can happen in the last few days, there are lots of bills, there's a lot of pressure to get some licensing legislation through," Loudon said.
Loudon hinted that he could support various licensing bills if he's allowed to add in language allowing midwives to practice in Missouri.
So far, his efforts have been unsuccessful.
"Essentially the Floor Leader (Sen. Charlie Shields) has said if gross negligence isn't defined the way he wants it, then he's not (going to) pass the bill...and I'm told by the chairman of another committee that has an absolute block over it, if gross negligence IS in there, then he'll kill it," Loudon said.
Loudon attempted to amend two bills during a rare middle-of-the-night session that ended shortly before 3:00 Wednesday morning. Both attempts failed.
Opponents say the language would allow anyone without medical training to deliver babies in Missouri.