Manitoba on verge of regulating midwifery CMAJ 1997;156:1108 © 1997 Canadian Medical Association With Manitoba expected to introduce regulated midwifery this spring, the January issue of the Manitoba Medical Association's Inter-Com summarized key parts of the MMA's position. The MMA supports implementation of regulated, hospital-based midwifery and hopes that it will eliminate lay midwifery but believes that all providers who practise obstetrics should be overseen by a single regulatory agency. Since independent practice is contrary to the thrust of health care reform, midwives and physicians should support each other in collaborative practice. The MMA also says that primary care of the newborn should remain the responsibility of the family physician or pediatrician. Inter-Com also reported on demand for midwifery and home birth in the US, where regulated nurse midwifery has existed since 1975. Data from the US National Centre for Health Statistics (1993) show that over 2 decades demand for midwifery has grown to account for 5% of all births, which "seems modest in view of the significant cost saving to US patients who choose a midwife rather than a physician." The MMA said similar demand in Manitoba would result in 900 midwife-assisted births -- many fewer than the 5000 to 6000 births projected by midwifery proponents. Send a letter to the editor responding to this article Envoyez une lettre à la rédaction au sujet de cet article | CMAJ April 15, 1997 (vol 156, no 8) / JAMC le 15 avril 1997 (vol 156, no 8) | | News in health and health care / Santé et soins de santé -- Les actualités |