Midwife named in Mesa birth center lawsuit had previous discipline, records say

MESA, Ariz. — Certified Nurse Midwife Pamela Moran is one of the midwives named in a wrongful death lawsuit against Mesa’s Willow Birth Center. 

The Zmrzel family filed with the courts on Feb. 12, following the death of their unborn son back in November 2023.

In the lawsuit, the Zmrzels, along with their attorney, allege the Willow Center did not properly care for Noelle, which led to the death of their unborn baby, James. The lawsuit claims Moran failed to properly and consistently monitor Mrs. Zmrzel’s vitals throughout the labor process.

Two certified professional midwives, Nicole Amador and Mana Muhajir, are also named in the lawsuit. The lawsuit claims Moran was supervising when Amador found dangerously low fetal heart tones and the presence of thick meconium. Zmrzel was transferred to the nearest hospital, but it was too late for baby James. 

The Zmrzel’s were left devastated following their baby’s stillbirth, after laboring at the Willow Center. 

“Need to do better at monitoring and listening to your patients,” Noelle said. “If they’re saying like you don’t feel something is right, maybe don’t dismiss them as first-time mother or father hysterics.”

Both Amador and Muhajir face license suspension for one year, by the Arizona Department of Health Services. 

A Willow spokesperson confirmed Moran worked for the center from November 2018 to December 2023 when she retired. The retirement date was about one month after baby James’ stillbirth.

Arizona Nursing Board documents showed Moran had past discipline for a different case. In June 2020, Moran’s license was suspended. It was then put on probation, which ended in July 2022, according to Nursing Board records. 

Records revealed Moran’s license suspension stemmed from an anonymous complaint made to the Nursing Board in 2019. The complaint alleged Moran failed to identify and manage postpartum complications. 

Documents said Moran allegedly failed to refer the patient to a higher level of care. The results were a 12-hour delay in the patient receiving treatment, including blood transfusion and surgery at a local medical center. 

Moran also voluntarily surrendered her California RN license in May of 2021, because of disciplinary action taken by another federal, state or local licensing authority.

Nursing Board President, Carolyn McCormies, explained their role in licensing and investigating Certified Nurse Midwives. McCormies said most investigations begin with complaints. 

“Anything that would put the public at risk would be a reason to investigate and then once we get those complaints, there’s a triage process,” McCormies said. “To see what’s the level of concern for the public’s safety, and if it’s a high level of concern, then that investigation is done a little bit more quickly.”

The Nursing Board said, in general, if there’s a suspension, the nurse midwife cannot work during that period. Once they’ve completed terms of suspension, typically a remediation, they may be eased back into practice under supervision as part of probation. The board said the goal is to ensure the nurse is safe to practice. 

12News reached out to Ms. Moran for a response. She said the lawsuit was news to her and hung up the phone. 

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