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Code of Ethics-Midwives

The International Code of Ethics for Midwives provides guidance for midwives in 4 areas: 1) Midwifery relationships which focus on informed consent, participation in decisions, empowerment, and collaboration. 2) Practice of midwifery which emphasizes respecting culture while eliminating harm, realistic expectations of childbirth, evidence-based practices, and addressing women's needs. 3) Professional responsibilities including confidentiality, accountability, refusing activities against conscience while not depriving essential services, and promoting women's health. 4) Advancement of the profession through research and education that protects women's rights.

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1K views3 pages

Code of Ethics-Midwives

The International Code of Ethics for Midwives provides guidance for midwives in 4 areas: 1) Midwifery relationships which focus on informed consent, participation in decisions, empowerment, and collaboration. 2) Practice of midwifery which emphasizes respecting culture while eliminating harm, realistic expectations of childbirth, evidence-based practices, and addressing women's needs. 3) Professional responsibilities including confidentiality, accountability, refusing activities against conscience while not depriving essential services, and promoting women's health. 4) Advancement of the profession through research and education that protects women's rights.

Uploaded by

PrincyFernando
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INTERNATIONAL CODE OF ETHICS FOR MIDWIVES

PREAMBLE
The aim of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) is to improve the

Core Document

standard of care provided to women, babies and families throughout the world
through the development, education and appropriate utilization of the professional
midwife. In keeping with this aim, the ICM sets forth the following code to guide the
education, practice and research of the midwife. This code acknowledges women
as persons with human rights, seeks justice for all people and equity in access to
health care, and is based on mutual relationships of respect and trust, and the
dignity of all members of society.
The code addresses the midwifes ethical mandates in achieving the aims and
objectives of the ICM concerned with how midwives relate to others; how they
practise midwifery; how they uphold professional responsibilities and duties; and
how they are to work to assure the integrity of the profession of midwifery.

THE CODE
I.

Midwifery Relationships
a. Midwives develop a partnership with women in which both share relevant
information that leads to informed decision-making, consent to a plan of
care, and acceptance of responsibility for the outcomes of their choices
b. Midwives support the right of women/families to participate actively in
decisions about their care.
c. Midwives empower women/families to speak for themselves on issues
affecting the health of women and families within their culture/society.
d. Midwives, together with women, work with policy and funding agencies to
define womens needs for health services and to ensure that resources are
fairly allocated considering priorities and availability.
e. Midwives support and sustain each other in their professional roles, and
actively nurture their own and others sense of self-worth.
f.

Midwives respectfully work with other health professionals, consulting and


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referring as necessary when the womans need for care exceeds the competencies of
the midwife.
g. Midwives recognise the human interdependence within their field of practice and
actively seek to resolve inherent conflicts.
h. Midwives have responsibilities to themselves as persons of moral worth, including
duties of moral self-respect and the preservation of integrity.

II.

Practice of Midwifery
a. Midwives provide care for women and childbearing families with respect for cultural
diversity while also working to eliminate harmful practices within those same cultures.
b. Midwives encourage realistic expectations of childbirth by women within their own
society, with the minimum expectation that no women should be harmed by
conception or childbearing.
c. Midwives use up-to-date, evidence-based professional knowledge to ensure safe
birthing practices in all environments and cultures.
d. Midwives respond to the psychological, physical, emotional and spiritual needs of
women seeking health care, whatever their circumstances.
e. Midwives act as effective role models of health promotion for women throughout their
life cycle, for families and for other health professionals.
f.

Midwives actively seek personal, intellectual and professional growth throughout their
midwifery career, integrating this growth into their practice.

III.

The Professional Responsibilities of Midwives


a. Midwives hold in confidence client information in order to protect the right to privacy,
and use judgment in sharing this information except when mandated by law.
b. Midwives are responsible for their decisions and actions, and are accountable for the
related outcomes in their care of women.
c. Midwives may refuse to participate in activities for which they hold deep moral
opposition; however, the emphasis on individual conscience should not deprive
women of essential health services.
d. Midwives understand the adverse consequences that ethical and human rights
violations have on the health of women and infants, and will work to eliminate these
violations.
e. Midwives participate in the development and implementation of health policies that
promote the health of all women and childbearing families.

IV.

Advancement of Midwifery Knowledge and Practice


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a. Midwives ensure that the advancement of midwifery knowledge is based on activities


that protect the rights of women as persons.
b. Midwives develop and share midwifery knowledge through a variety of processes,
such as peer review and research.
c. Midwives participate in the formal education of midwifery students and ongoing
education of midwives.

Adopted at Glasgow International Council meeting, 2008


Due for next review 2014

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