Midwife convicted of practicing medicine without license after near-fatal home birth

ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) - A woman in Georgia was convicted of practicing medicine without a license after a near-fatal home birth in 2022, according to authorities.

Cynthia “Cindy” Rene Morrow, 64, was found guilty of all nine counts she faced Wednesday, according to the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, which covers Cherokee County.’

During labor and following the 2022 birth at a Woodstock home, Morrow performed multiple medical procedures she wasn’t licensed to perform, including administering an injection of Pitocin – a drug used to help induce labor – and intravenous fluids, inserting a catheter and performing a manual uterine procedure, prosecutors said.

The mother experienced significant blood loss after giving birth. Despite her worsening condition, Morrow did not tell the woman’s family she was experiencing a medical emergency, and requested a non-emergency medical transport when she eventually called 911, the DA’s office said.

By the time Morrow called 911, the victim was vomiting, had lost consciousness and was experiencing hypovolemic shock.

Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services stabilized the woman and took her to the hospital for emergency treatment of a severe postpartum hemorrhage.

Medical records show the woman’s blood pressure dropped to 63/55, her heartrate reached 139 beats per minute and she lost approximately 50 percent of her blood, prosecutors said.

Doctors administered medication to control bleeding, provided multiple blood transfusions and performed emergency surgery.

Medical experts who testified at the trial said that they would have taken the woman to a hospital at least five hours earlier, based on her condition.

The jury also heard testimony from two other former clients and their family members. They described similar experiences with Morrow’s midwifery practice in separate incidents that happened outside of Cherokee County.

One of those women nearly died during childbirth, while the other lost her baby. The DA’s office said their testimony gave the jury additional evidence to consider regarding Morrow’s practices and conduct.

Prosecutors also introduced more than 100 exhibits, including the Cherokee County 911 call, the victim’s medical records, client logs Morrow maintained for her business, Birth Servant Midwifery, LLC, along with cellphone records and records showing Morrow was not licensed as a physician, nurse, or certified nurse midwife.

Photographs taken during the execution of the search warrant at the Woodstock home showed expired, dangerous drugs – the Pitocin – and needles, sutures, intravenous supplies and other medical equipment.

Seven of the charges Morrow was convicted of stemmed from the 2022 Woodstock home birth:

• 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)

Morrow was also found guilty of the “lesser-included offense of criminal attempt (for possession of expired Pitocin that was recovered during a 2024 search warrant of her home)” and unlawful practice of midwifery, involving a second victim in Cherokee County.

Sentencing is set for Nov. 10.