I am not sorry that women are returning to women for their care, nor do I feel that this is a loss that this is happening. It is condescending attitudes like this man's that is leading women back to women for their care. And for the better. Never mind that the CPM is the only credential that specifically qualifies midwives for out of hospital practice. No study has ever shown that physician attended hospital births produce better outcomes for women or infants than planned midwife attended home births.
Studies do show greater risks for unattended out of hospital birth.
Recent reports indicate that medical mistakes and hospital acquired infections are the third leading cause of death in the United States, and that we currently rank 39th among other nations for infant mortality. Logic suggests that healthy newborns with naturally immature immune systems should not be exposed to a biohazardous hospital environment. No government can force a mentally competent person to be hospitalized or accept medical treatment. The state doesn't dare to deny a healthy woman's right to give birth at home. Therefore, the burden should fall on the legislature to justify the risks that it has created by prohibiting midwives from attending home births.