New laws in the Czech Republic raise questions for midwives' practice.

• Auteur: Stromerova, Zuzana
• Tenlastelegging: News from midwives in Europe: the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, the Netherlands: As major political changes take place in Europe, the ICM has received news reports from midwives around the region

New laws in the Czech Republic raise questions for midwives' practice

A bulletin received from the Czech Association of Midwives describes new legislation pertinent to midwives that came into force in April 2004.

Article 6 of this law refers to the professional activity of midwives. Paragraph 2 states that a midwife can pursue her profession without professional supervision after three years of practice in the field of care for women during pregnancy, birth and the puerperium, and for the newborn. Paragraph 3 of this law reads: As midwifery profession we understand providing health care in midwifery, that means assuring necessary supervision, care and advice for women during pregnancy, birth and postnatal dine, as long as these are physiological, conducting a normal birth and providing care for the newborn. A midwife in co-operation with the doctor participates in providing preventive, therapeutic, diagnostic, emergency care.

Comments on this legislation received from the Czech Association of Midwives include the view that: 'although both paragraphs seem to be clear and seem to speak in favour of midwives, still we can see efforts to prevent the midwives from being able to work independently and without doctor's supervision. There are efforts to interpret the meaning of the law in such a way as would make it impossible for the midwives to get a certificate...