Attorney General Curtis Hill has filed a complaint against a Porter County woman alleging that she is acting as an unlicensed midwife for Indiana families.
The complaint alleges that Julie Lentz, doing business as Sacred Lotus Midwifery Services, has failed to obtain either a certified nurse midwife license or a certified direct entry midwife certificate. Under Indiana law, an individual must achieve one of these designations in order to legally provide services as a midwife.
“Indiana law is designed to ensure that midwives meet certain educational and other requirements so they can provide safe and effective care to expecting mothers,†Attorney General Hill said. “Engaging in consumer transactions without a required permit or other license is a deceptive act in violation of Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act.â€
The Office of the Attorney General also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO), which the Porter County Superior Court granted. The TRO provides an emergency 10-day injunction against Lentz, preventing her from operating as a midwife in Indiana.
The office is seeking a longer-term preliminary injunction preventing Lentz from further operation as an unlicensed midwife in Indiana, along with civil penalties and court costs. The court has scheduled a hearing on the matter for 2:30 p.m. CST on Monday, July 8. (Porter County time is an hour earlier than most of the state.)
In addition to the civil matter, the office has also filed a motion to cease and desist against Lentz before the Indiana State Board of Nursing, which has agreed to hear the motions at a hearing likely be held on July 18. If the motion is granted, Lentz would be ordered to cease the practice of midwifery.
