The Midwife's Rights and Responsibilities:

1. The midwife has the right to clearly state her expectations of the client's responsibility concerning her prenatal care, in labor and postpartum.
2. The midwife has the right to decline to participate in activities she is morally opposed to.
3. The midwife has the right to refuse, transfer or discontinue care and to determine and define the conditions appropriate for doing so.
4. The midwife has the right and responsibility to gather information regarding client conditions and concerns for which a midwife may need to consult, refer or transfer the client to another health care professional.
5. The midwife has the responsibility to clearly state and document when a woman’s choices fall outside the midwife’s practice guidelines.
6. The midwife has the right to honest financial information and appropriate compensation.
7. The midwife has the responsibility to assist the client in activities that promote the woman’s well being.
8. The midwife respects the client’s right to decline treatments or procedures.
9. The midwife has the right to a client signature on refusal of recommendation documents.
10. The midwife has the responsibility to document the client’s refusal of the midwife’s recommendations in writing and to retain the documents in the client’s records.

1. The midwife recognizes, informs and supports the woman’s right as primary decision maker regarding her health care and that of her infant.
2. The client has the responsibility to educate herself as primary decision maker regarding her health care and that of her infant.
3. The client has the responsibility of participating in her education concerning the potential benefits and risk of treatments and procedures.
4. The client has the right to informed consent prior to any procedure and/or prescribed medication to be given to her and her newborn, including risks, benefits, options and alternatives.
5. The client has the right to accept or refuse the midwife's recommended care.
6. The client accepts the responsibility for outcomes of refusing recommended care.
7. The client has the responsibility to truthfully and fully inform the midwife of all matters concerning her own health care history.