A Pennsylvania appeals court has thrown out, at least temporarily, an $11,000 fine against an unlicensed midwife who served Lancaster's Amish community, but indicated she probably will have to stop delivering babies.

In a ruling distributed yesterday, Commonwealth Court Judge James Gardner Colins called the fine issued by the state medical board against lay midwife Diane Goslin "unconscionable" and "repugnant to traditional concepts of justice."

Ms. Goslin is challenging a board ruling that she must stop practicing midwifery because she is unlicensed. State law requires midwives to be registered nurses and to operate under strict guidelines.

Judge Colins said the board cannot attempt to collect a fine until Ms. Goslin's legal challenge is decided -- and suggested the board impose lower fines for people who act in good faith.

Judge Colins, however, warned Ms. Goslin that she probably will not succeed in overturning the cease-and-desist order. He declined to suspend that order.

Ms. Goslin, 49, said she has helped deliver more than 5,000 babies over more than 26 years.