HARRISBURG — The state fined a woman $11,000 for attending an Amish home birth as an unlicensed midwife and ordered her to stop practicing immediately.

The state Board of Medicine rejected Diane Goslin's argument that state law does not expressly prohibit her from serving as a "lay midwife" for home births, which are common among the Amish and conservative Mennonites.

"Her violations of the law are grave because her conduct puts women and their newborn infants at risk," the board said in its Wednesday ruling.

Goslin faced civil sanctions for assisting an Amish woman at a home birth in November 2005. The baby died the next day, but no criminal charges were filed.

Pennsylvania requires midwives to be registered nurses and to follow strict guidelines.