‘Medical colonialism’: midwives sue Hawaii over law regulating Native birth workers

Exclusive: Native Hawaiian midwives say new law criminalizes Indigenous birthing customs and will deal blow to maternal health

Six midwives, including three midwifery students, and three patients sued the state of Hawaii on Tuesday after the government last year prohibited birth workers without a specific midwifery license from providing maternal healthcare.

The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday by the Center for Reproductive Rights, claims that state lawmakers have criminalized Indigenous birthing customs and hollowed out medical care for pregnant women and families across Hawaii.