Kelly McDermott Albany Death – Kelly McDermott, a prominent Albany midwife and advocate for informed maternity care, passed away on Monday after spending 30 days in home confinement. McDermott, who owned Sage-Femme Midwifery, a well-known midwifery clinic in the Capital Region, died “after a brief illness,” according to a social media post from her clinic. Her cause of death was not disclosed.
McDermott’s death comes just months after she was sentenced to four years of probation for her role in a COVID-19 vaccine fraud scheme. Earlier this year, she pleaded guilty to falsifying thousands of vaccination cards and destroying more than 2,600 vaccine doses. As part of her sentence, she was ordered to pay over $39,000 in fines and restitution and to serve 30 days in home confinement.
The scheme came to light in February 2022 when the New York State Department of Health’s Vaccination Complaint Investigations Team noticed discrepancies in the clinic’s reporting. These included minors who were not yet eligible for vaccination and non-U.S. citizens who were out of the country during the time they allegedly received the shots. The case was referred to the FBI, leading to federal charges against McDermott and two others from Sage-Femme Midwifery, who also pleaded guilty.
Despite her legal troubles, McDermott continued to work as a midwife until her confinement began. Her death has sparked