Midwife. A person following the profession of delivering women of children. The (English) Medical Act, 1886, by s. 3 requires as a qualification for registration as a medical practitioner, and for the recovery of professional charges, the having passed a qualifying examination in 'medicine, surgery, and midwifery.' The (English) Midwives Act, 1902, as amended by the (English) Midwives Acts, 1918 to 1937, penalizes any woman, not certified under the Act, who styles herself a midwife, or who habitually attends women in child birth for gain; constitutes a Central Midwives Board to regulate the issue of certificates; establishes a 'Midwives Roll'; provides for the local supervision of midwives by county or county borough councils, and otherwise aims at securing the better training of midwives and the regulation of their practice. For the Acts and the Rules of the Central Midwives Board under it, see Chitty's Statutes. The (English) Ministry of Health Act, 1919, provides that the Ministry shall exercise all the powers under these Acts which were previously exercised by the Privy Council. The 1936 Act imposes on local authorities the duty of the provision, either through welfare councils, voluntary organizations or by itself, of domiciling service of midwives (s. 1); ss. 2 and 3 deal with terms of employment and fees payable to midwives; s. 5 deals with compensation payable when midwives cease or are required to cease practice; s. 6 prohibits and unqualified person acting as maternity nurse for gain. As to Scotland, see Midwives (Scotland) Act, 1915.
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