§ 23-13-9 Licensing and regulation of
midwives – Penalty for violations. –
The state director of health is authorized and directed to make rules for the
regulation of the practice of midwifery and for the licensing of midwives,
including regulations which require the payment of an initial application fee
equal to that fee which is imposed upon applicants for licensure as nurse
practitioners and a renewal fee also equivalent to that for nurse
practitioners. The rules regarding the regulation of the practice of midwifery
shall authorize a licensed nurse-midwife to prescribe medications that might be
reasonably required by his or her patients; provided however, that a
nurse-midwife shall prescribe any of those medications as authorized by a list
prepared by the director of health. The provisions of this section relating to
prescription by nurse-midwives shall be overseen by the department of health.
No person not a licensed midwife or a physician, registered under the
provisions of chapter 37 of title 5, shall practice midwifery or shall make a
practice of attending women in childbirth for hire, or use the name or title of
midwife. Any person who violates the provisions of this section or who violates
any of the rules of the department of health made in pursuance of this section
shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100), or imprisoned not more
than six (6) months, or both, and the director of health may revoke the license
issued to any person when, in the opinion of the director of health, that
person is guilty of unprofessional conduct.
(G.L. 1909, ch. 115, § 16; P.L. 1918, ch. 1634, § 1; G.L. 1923, ch.
153, § 16; G.L. 1938, ch. 255, § 13; impl. am. P.L. 1939, ch. 660,
§ 180; G.L. 1956, § 23-13-9; P.L. 1988, ch. 554, § 1; P.L. 1997,
ch. 30, art. 28, § 7; P.L. 1999, ch. 89, § 1.)