1/28/2018 Hi again.
So I’m not sure if it will matter for a potential case. I’m sure it depends on many things especially if it’s timely anymore to even sue. Just wanted to update you on what I’ve been doing for two years since my license was suspended.
I moved to Georgia to take care of my elderly grandma and conveniently got divorced but am waiting on my settlement to be finalized. I have been “working” as an unlicensed Midwife and birth assistant but honestly I’d rather be plucking chickens than doing midwifery at this point. Simply because I can’t pay my bills doing this. However I have been still educating my self in everything midwifery. I have probably taken hundreds of hours of online CEUs and courses. I’ve printed all the certificates and transcripts out. Bottom line is that I haven’t sat idly. I even graduated from another midwifery program (that’s two degrees in midwifery now in addition to my BS). I had a job at one of the midwifery colleges but they rescinded my offer after I revealed my licensure was suspended. So this whole issue has been horrifically devastating to my life. It’s unbelievable that although no one died or was hurt or injured and the parents even testified on my behalf that they can suspend my license like this. I even applied for licensure in Florida and was denied only because my Louisiana license is suspended.
I also had a routine physical from a few years ago from my general practitioner which shows everything is Normal except white coat hypertension (I wonder why lol). But recently last summer in 2017 I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer but haven’t had it removed yet because of my tenuous situation with needing medication my entire life if I get surgery but without having stable health insurance due to unemployment/divorce and living in a state that didn’t expand Medicaid. I tried applying for probably 50 jobs only to find out I can’t get a job due to this license suspension. Conveniently I have the drug test results from a job application a few months ago which shows I have no drugs in my system nor have I ever for that matter. I drink socially but that’s it. I barely take Tylenol and don’t take any pharmaceuticals. Or smoke or inject or do any street drugs. I’m hardly the person who would need an evaluation from a drug or alcohol rehab center. So I don’t mind going and having the psych Evaluation done at the closest facility because they won’t find a medical reason for keeping me there but from what I read online these facilities are money making entities that rely on the state agencies to feed them so to speak with clients. While I realize I have no reason to be detained nor fit criteria to be in one of these treatment facilities I am wary that Somehow some form of corruption will occur because lsbme will tell more lies behind my back and present more untruths to convince the center that I’m not healthy. And I don’t have an extra 40,000$ laying around which is the cost of these places “follow up treatment.”
Should I go and get evaluated by an unbiased psychotherapist? I’m afraid the whole system is so corrupt that something else egregious and biased will occur if I go to one of the lsbme sanctioned treatment facilities. I’ve spoken with several forensic psychologists near me in Georgia as well as my aunt who is a child psychologist and everyone says don’t enter one of these facilities and no one understands why or how lsbme cannot tell me what I need the psyche evaluation for or at least what tests need to be administered.
Anyway sorry for the lengthy emails. I know it’s a lot of info. Thank you so much for any help. JM
1/29/2018 I received a reply from an attorney who works on birth issues. I cannot afford to hire her, but she is providing me feedback, time, and her guidance from the kindness of her heart. To keep her some-what confidential, I’ll paraphrase her message:
Good to hear from you. Wow, what a run-around.
Have you contacted all of those places they referred you to? I can’t believe they all require a 3 day in treatment evaluation. I agree, that seems extreme. Did you call and say that the Board asked for you to contact them for an evaluation? Handling that would be a good first step…
So that is what I do. I begin reaching out to the closest treatment centers….
1/30/2018 Thank you again for all your info. If you have a recommendation on any counsel I should contact I’m all ears. I understand that you are a busy person and appreciate you even looking into this for me.
Yes all of the treatment centers primarily offer a three day in patient evaluation and again are primarily drug and alcohol rehabs. I have contacted three of them and looked on all of the websites. But it doesn’t even make sense to have me only able to choose from five places that are in five different states. Supposedly if I did need treatment that wouldn’t be feasible nor realistic to commute to Texas, for example, as I’m in Georgia. The whole thing is insane.
Again. Nowhere in my board order does it specify what treatment I need or what my rehabilitation would be for or even why this is necessary. I have no history of drug or alcohol abuse or mental history. And lsbme will not tell me what I’m being evaluated for. Lsbme told me to have the treatment center contact them after I sign up and they will tell them what I need! Also Somewhere in my corresponding with Ms spooner from LSBME she mentioned that I needed an inpatient Evaluation.
I called Talbot marsh recovery in Atlanta this afternoon and I am seeing if they can communicate with the lsbme on my behalf to see what tests I need or even what issue they need to treat me for. It’s frustrating to not be able to communicate to the lsbme. Im sure to the treatment centers I sound crazy even though I’m not. Sigh. Guess that’s the goal of the lsbme.
Thank you again for your time. JM
My Journey as a Licensed Midwife in Louisiana 