1.	Midwives respect their relationship with women and their families,
	maintain confidentiality of information obtained, and only share
	pertinent information with the woman's permission or as legally
	required.

2.	Midwives support and advocate for their professional Association.
	Midwives should not engage in any activity that would adversely
	affect the honour, dignity, or credibility of the profession.

3.	Midwives, as members of a health care profession, act in a manner
	that enhances the reputation of, and inspires public awareness and
	confidence in, the profession.

4.	Midwives continue their education, both formally and informally,
	to keep their practice current, and take examinations as required
	to demonstrate that their skills are at a safe level.

5.	Midwives' primary responsibility is the well-being of women and
	their babies. Midwives use research-based knowledge to provide
	appropriate care.

6.	Midwives respect the rights of women to make informed choices, 
 	including choice of caregiver and place of birth by providing
	them with complete, current and objective information, 
	communicating their scope and limitations of practice, and making 
	referrals when	required. Although the decision regarding the place
	of birth should ideally be made on evidence based safety 
	indicators and current research findings, no woman in labour 
	should be denied care wherever the birth is occurring.

7.	Midwives do not discriminate on the basis of language, culture,
	age, socioeconomic status, gender orientation, religious
	persuasion, or location, when providing professional care.

8.	Midwives always act to optimize health for the woman and her baby
	when providing information, advice and care from preconception,
	through pregnancy, labour, birth, and the postpartum/neonatal
	periods.

9.	Midwives promote, protect and support breastfeeding by providing
	research-based information in order that women can make an 
	informed choice about infant feeding. Midwives respect the World 
	Health Organization (WHO) Code of Breastfeeding and utilize effective
	strategies for initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. Midwives
 	support the woman's informed decision regarding her choice of method
 	of infant feeding.

10.	Midwives recognize and accept that loss may be a part of pregnancy
	and birth, and in doing so support the woman and her family in
	dealing with any loss according to their individual needs, and
	make appropriate referrals when required.

11.	Midwives recognize that in situations where there are objections
	or conflicts of interest between women and themselves they will
	assist the woman in finding another care provider (midwife or
	physician).

12.	Midwives may not refuse to attend a woman during labour, nor 
	cease providing care during labour unless there are 
	appropriately regulated health professionals present to provide
	the necessary care.

13.	Midwives show respect to other professional or lay caregivers
	chosen by a woman to support her during pregnancy, labour, birth 
	and the postpartum period.

14.	Midwives care for themselves and do not practise when their
	judgement is impaired by physical or psycho-social factors.

15.	Midwives share their midwifery knowledge by being preceptors,
	mentors and educators to students, and by participating in
	peer review and research related activities.

16.	Midwives provide vital statistics data required by law, and
	other appropriate agencies. Midwives will store and provide data
	in accordance with the Personal Health Information Act (2008) and
	the Health Professions Act (2010).

17.	Midwives cooperate with government and voluntary agencies to
	determine women's needs for health services and to promote
	equal access to health care resources for childbearing women.

18.	Midwives refuse to accept any gift, favour or hospitality
	which might be interpreted as a professional endorsement of a
	commercial product. Likewise, the midwife should not provide
	preferential treatment or consideration to the client on the
	basis of financial or other rewards.

19.	Midwives ensure that their professional status is not used to
	promote commercial products or services, declare any financial
	or other interests in relevant organisations providing such
	goods or services, and ensure that their professional
	judgement is not influenced by commercial considerations.

20.	Midwives will adhere to professional standards when promoting
	the availability of their services.

21.	Midwives will practise midwifery in accordance with Midwives
	Regulations and Policies of the Newfoundland and Labrador
	Health Professions Council and the College of Midwives.


				(December 2000 revised September 2010) 



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