Protesters say SC birthing center shut down by the state should reopen

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Dozens of local parents brought their children to a protest outside the county health department in Rock Hill Monday.

They are speaking out about the ongoing shutdown of the Carolina Community Maternity Center in Fort Mill.

The birthing center on Gold Hill Road was shut down in September following the death of an infant during a birth Aug. 29.

State health officials did an unannounced inspection of the center in early August, and cited it for not having an on-call doctor within a reasonable distance from the center.

At the time, the center had a contract with a doctor who practiced in Greer, about 90 minutes away.

However, officials at the birthing center disputed DHEC's citation, claiming that state law requires an on-call doctor available by phone, but doesn't specify how close that physician needs to be to the center.

It was a few weeks later when an infant died less than 24 hours after the mother arrived in labor.

Records obtained by Channel 9 through the Freedom of Information Act show that a doctor was not called during that process.

When family members drove the pregnant mother to the hospital that evening, the baby was delivered by C-section, but had no heartbeat and was not breathing, DHEC records show.

On Monday, protesters told Channel 9 that things sometimes happen, no matter where a baby is born.

"This happens in hospitals too, but no one talks about it," said Erin Neuwald, who had a child at the birthing center.

Protester Emily Chappell-Root said restricting birthing centers denies families a critical choice.

"For us to move backward would be a tragedy and a disservice to South Carolina women," she said.

South Carolina's laws on the use of midwives during delivery are less restrictive than North Carolina.

That's why the Fort Mill center has been popular with families in Charlotte and beyond.

Most of the children who came to Monday's protest event with their parents were born at the maternity center or at home.

They carried signs praising midwives, and decrying what they see as a push by the medical field to stamp out competition.

Neuwald, from Charlotte, said the economic reasons to shut down birthing centers, are clear.

"The birthing centers are taking money away from hospitals, and they want their clients back," she said.

Father Jesse Graston echoed the thought that the pressure on birthing centers is about money.

"This is not a genuine attempt to try and protect the children. It's so the hospitals can have a monopoly on births," he said.

On Monday, DHEC sent Channel 9 an email saying there is no effort underway to shut down birthing centers.

"DHEC has not threatened to shut the birthing centers down, but has given them a deadline to evidence compliance. If they are out of compliance, they have six months to get into compliance, or ask the General Assembly to change the law."

DHEC said the law requiring an on-call physician has been on the books for decades.

DHEC said it also requires that a doctor be available to assist at the center if called. Birthing centers dispute the intent of the law.

The next step for the Carolina Community Maternity Center to reopen is a hearing before the administrative law court in Columbia.

The center has requested that hearing, but no date has been set.

Read our past coverage on this story here.

WSOC