Yvonne Cryns

Yvonne Cryns (born 1951) is an American midwife and political activist. From 1991 to 2001, she served as a traditional midwife in Illinois and Wisconsin. Cryns has a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) designation.

As a childbirth activist, she worked to restore childbirth rights to Illinois women and their families, speaking and providing public education on the topic and testifying at Legislative committee hearings.

Cryns introduced several bills to the Illinois legislature for many years in an effort to gain licensure for midwives. She assisted at over 300 births. Cryns has seven children, six of whom were born at home.

Legal issues Department of Professional Regulation On April 7, 2000, Cryns was ordered to cease and desist the practice of medicine, nursing and midwifery by the Department of Professional Regulation, ("DPR") since she was not a registered nurse in Illinois although she did have a license in Wisconsin. She sued DPR, claiming the agency had no jurisdiction to regulate her practice. Oral arguments were heard on November 30, 2002. The court also found that Cryns was practicing nursing or midwifery without a license, based upon the testimony of Louis Verzi, the baby's father, as well as the videotape admitted into evidence.

Trial Cryns was charged with involuntary manslaughter of both a born child and of an unborn child. Cryns told the Verzis, "I don't want you to tell [the emergency crew] I was here," adding "Do me a favor, get all my stuff out of here."

She was charged with reckless disregard for the safety of the baby boy, who in a feet-first position in his mother's uterus, presented a risky delivery that doctors and many midwives generally believe warrants a hospital birth and often a Caesarean section. Cryns claimed her actions were in keeping with accepted midwife practice and the boy's death was beyond her control.

Throughout the trial, the baby's parents (Louis and Heather Verzi) supported Cryns. The Verzis testified that they had known they were taking a risk by having a breech baby delivered at home, and they had signed an informed-consent agreement taking responsibility.

Not guilty for unborn child In June 2001, a jury found her not guilty for the unborn child and was deadlocked (10-2 in favor of conviction) for the born child charge. Cryns' attorney, Andrea Lyon, tried to argue that a second trial constituted double jeopardy. Her motion to dismiss was denied in November 2001, so Lyon appealed to the Illinois Appellate Court.

In September, Cryns agreed to the plea bargain on the misdemeanor charge of reckless conduct, and sentenced to 18 months probation.

Legal expenses The judge also ruled that part of her bail bond cash be used to pay for a transcript copy of her original. Lyon also appealed that, arguing that Cryns is "legally indigent", and that the bond was paid for by "friends and church members" for whom it should remain for.

An affidavit filed with a motion to get a free transcript of the testimony in her earlier trial showed that the Cryns owed an estimated $255,000 in legal expenses, for both her defense on the criminal charges and in her civil court battle against the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation.