A Victoria coroner has ordered a banned birth practitioner to testify in the investigation into the death of wellness influencer Stacey Warnecke, bringing to a head a case that raises serious questions about unregulated practitioners and informed consent in maternity care.
Stacey Warnecke, 30, gave birth to her son at her Melbourne home on 29 September with unregulated doula Emily Lal present. Her condition rapidly declined and an ambulance was called about 4.30am. She was rushed to Frankston Hospital but could not be saved. It is suspected she died from complications following a postpartum haemorrhage.
The critical moment in this case concerns the conduct of Emily Lal after Warnecke's deterioration. Warnecke's death was reported to police and her husband Nathan provided a statement to detectives but Lal refused. The doula also refused to provide a statement to the Victorian coroner, objecting on grounds she could incriminate herself.
Coroner Therese McCarthy ordered a direct witness summons be served on Lal, where she would be advised she could give evidence at inquest under a certificate. The coroner said Lal's evidence was crucial to understanding the circumstances of Warnecke's death and expressed hope she would participate in the process.
Warnecke's decisions about her care reflected broader trends in wellness culture and scepticism of conventional medicine. She was a qualified nutritionist who promoted a healthy and "chemical-free" lifestyle on social media. She appeared profoundly affected by COVID-19 mandates, and her concerns influenced her decision to decline all health care during pregnancy, including ultrasounds and appointments with a midwife or obstetrician.
The case will also examine whether she understood the risks she was undertaking. The coroner will investigate the circumstances of Warnecke's death and whether she would have survived with earlier medical intervention, as well as the risks of home births, whether Warnecke was aware of those risks, why she chose to proceed, and any prevention measures going forward.
Lal's involvement raises questions about accountability in the birth services sector. Following Warnecke's death, the Health Complaints Commissioner issued a warning and ban preventing Lal from providing any general health services in Victoria. A newborn baby girl also died in 2022 after the mother delivered using a home-birthing pool rented from Lal.
If Lal continues to object to giving evidence, that process will take place in May ahead of the inquest starting on 15 June. The case highlights a critical gap: unregulated birth practitioners operate in a legal grey zone with no formal accountability mechanisms until tragedy occurs. Warnecke's death offers an opportunity for the coroner to examine that gap and recommend safeguards.