Hawaii Naturopathic Doctor Sued in Home Birth

A 28-year-old Manoa woman has filed a lawsuit against a Honolulu naturopathic doctor she says acted negligently and caused her son to suffer permanent brain injury.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Margaret Drake filed the negligence lawsuit Monday against naturopathic doctor Lori G. Kimata, her company Sacred Healing Arts Center and her assistant Kaja Gibbs.

Richard Turbin, Drake’s attorney, says the case underscores the need to require specific training for naturopaths and to allow midwives in Hawaii to be licensed so they can perform home births.

Kimata did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Drake says her son was born limp, showed signs that he needed medical attention and was taken by ambulance to Kapiolani Medical Center in respiratory distress.