I know a few mid-wives. They are all RN's and work with the area ob- gyn's closely. They are registered and licensed by the state. I also knew but have lost touch with a mid-wife in WA who was a complete flake. I wouldn't let her deliver my cats kittens! Like any profession it has competent and incompetent individuals practicing. I think most mid- wives are maligned unfairly.
Some doctors are good with birth assisting and some aren't. My mother liked the doctor who assisted in my delivery, Dr. Cyril Marcus. Apparently people were practically lining up to get appointments with him so he must have been doing something right. Lots of doctors could use some serious help with their "bedside manner" so I souldn't think finding a doctor who sucked at assisting in childbirth would be terribly difficult. Quite the opposite in fact.
John Thornton