A group of Georgia midwives filed a lawsuit against the state on Thursday, challenging regulations they say restrict their ability to provide care in areas with limited access to maternity services. The plaintiffs argue that physician agreement requirements and other state regulations create barriers to healthcare access, particularly in counties designated as maternity care deserts. More than one-third of Georgia’s counties lack obstetric providers or birthing facilities, according to the March of Dimes. The lawsuit claims the state’s policies violate the Georgia Constitution and fail to ensure patient safety.
Georgia is one of 16 states requiring nurse-midwives to have formal agreements with physicians, often involving financial and logistical burdens. Certified nurse-midwife Sarah Stokely, one of the plaintiffs, said the required agreements cost around $500 per month, making it difficult for her to practice in Georgia. Midwives without nursing degrees are banned from practicing in the state entirely.
The plaintiffs argue that expanding midwifery services could help address Georgia’s high maternal mortality rate. For every 100,000 births, 30 mothers die from complications, according to a 2025 March of Dimes report, compared to the national rate of 23.5. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists notes that home births carry twice the risk of infant mortality compared to hospital births. However, midwives contend that alternative measures could improve outcomes in underserved areas.
The lawsuit seeks to relax regulations to allow midwives to practice more freely, arguing that current laws treat them as criminals while leaving many Georgians without access to care.