Mother nearly dies after home birth; woman convicted of practicing medicine without a license

A 64-year-old Woodstock woman has been found guilty of all nine counts she faced Nov. 4 after authorities say she was practicing medicine without a license as part of her midwifery business.

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A 2022 home birth, after which the mother nearly died, was the main focus of the trial and the charges against Cynthia Rene Morrow.

Morrow’s charges included one count of practicing medicine without a license, one count of practicing nursing without a license, two counts of unlawful practice of midwifery, two counts of reckless conduct, one count of possession of a dangerous drug (Pitocin), criminal attempt (for possession of expired Pitocin that was recovered during a 2024 search warrant of her home) and unlawful practice of midwifery for a second birth.

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Georgia law prohibits people from performing midwifery services “unless that person has a current certification from the Georgia Board of Nursing to practice as a Certified Nurse-Midwife.”

According to evidence presented at the trial, Morrow performed medical procedures she had no license or authority to perform, including injecting Pitocin and providing intravenous fluids.

The mother lost a lot of blood after childbirth as part of what was later diagnosed as a severe postpartum hemorrhage, but Morrow didn’t tell the woman’s family she was experiencing a medical emergency. She had advised a non-emergency transport to the hospital before she ultimately called 911.

Morrow called for help after the mother had lost consciousness and was vomiting. Medical experts at the trial said they would’ve transferred the mother to the hospital five hours earlier.

The mother had lost about 50% of her blood by the time she was taken to the hospital. Physicians at the hospital performed emergency surgery, and the mother also needed multiple blood transfusions.

The jury heard from the mother, her family, the 911 dispatcher and emergency room personnel, as well as two other former clients and their families.

The jury also heard from two other clients, one of whom nearly died in childbirth and a second who lost her baby.

It took the jury about three hours of deliberations to return guilty verdicts on all nine counts. Sentencing is slated for Nov. 10.

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