MANSFIELD, Ohio – A woman serving as a midwife for Amish and Mennonite communities was indicted by the Richland County Grand Jury for practicing without a medical license.
Kathy Brown, also known as Kathy Wood, was charged with practicing medicine without a license, two counts of unauthorized practice of nursing, and six counts of selling, purchasing, distributing or delivering dangerous drugs.
Richland County Prosecutor Bambi Couch Page explained Brown practiced as a midwife from January 2007 through August 2015 before her behavior came to light via a complaint to the State Medical Board of Ohio. Couch Page said the investigation into Brown’s services was coordinated between an investigator from the State Medical Board of Ohio and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
“It was found that Brown was practicing as a midwife and providing medical services to the Amish and Mennonite communities through a clinic in Greenwich, Ohio,” Couch Page said. “She was providing and administering certain drugs to the Amish and Mennonite communities that were being obtained over the Internet from other countries.”
The two drugs connected to Brown’s six charges of selling, purchasing, distributing or delivering dangerous drugs were the anti-nausea medication Ondansetron and Cytotec, a birth induction drug.
As a consequence of complaints about Brown’s services and contact with individuals in the Amish and Mennonite communities (as well as other agencies in Richland County), a controlled buy from Brown was coordinated. Couch Page said buys were coordinated on three occasions. After the third transaction a search warrant was immediately served on the premises where Brown was located.
“As a result of the information that was obtained through the investigation as well as through the controlled buys, we charged her for these crimes,” Couch Page said.
Couch Page was uncertain why Brown had initially lost her medical license. The information was not contained in the original offense report. She noted Brown could serve up to 4 1/2 years in prison.
“There were a lot of people affected by this,” she said.
Also indicted by the Richland County Grand Jury was Renee Cottrill on 15 counts of theft from a person in a protected class, and four counts of forgery. Couch Page explained the charge of theft from a person in a protected class includes the elderly and those who are mentally handicapped.
Couch Page stated the charges stem from an incident involving an elderly individual who resides in a nursing home. Cottrill was the individual’s home healthcare nurse.
“It was determined that the defendant had taken checks and forged them, making them out to herself using the victim’s checks and signature,” Couch Page said. “The victim never gave permission for any sort of additional monies. She was to be paid her salary only but she was using the items to purchase personal items for herself.”
The incidents happened on at least 15 occasions from Jan. 2, 2015 through March 7, 2015, with the total amount stolen adding up to $954.51.
“Generally, that amount would be less than the threshold, but because the victim is elderly any amount you take from elderly is a fifth-degree felony,” Couch Page explained. “Each time you do it, it’s an independent act.”
