Doctor reported birthkeeper to police the day Melbourne wellness influencer died following freebirth

Inquest hears clinician was not legally required to report to police but was concerned about public health and safety Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A senior clinician reported a birthkeeper to police the same day one of her clients died after giving birth at home – something the senior clinician said he had not done before. The evidence was heard during the third day of the inquest into the death of 30-year-old wellness influencer Stacey Warnecke, who died on 29 September in Frankston hospital in Melbourne. She had paid Emily Lal $6,000 to support her to have a freebirth at home without any clinically trained staff involved. Lal described her role at the time as a “birthkeeper”. Birthkeepers have no medical training and operate outside the medical system, and do not believe in the involvement of trained clinical staff throughout pregnancy. Lal on Tuesday told the inquest that her role was not a medical one, nor was it to keep Warnecke safe. Rather, she was acting primarily as a friend when she was hired and attended Warnecke’s birth at home, Lal said. She also said it was not her role to call an am

Jun 17, 2026 → Jun 18, 2026