The fact that a midwife’s professional practice is bound by a contract or statute to an administration, a local authority or any other public or private body in no way detracts from her professional duties, and in particular her obligations regarding the independence of her decisions and respect for professional secrecy.
Under no circumstances may a midwife accept any restriction on her professional independence from her employer. Wherever they practise, midwives must always act first and foremost in the interests of the health and safety of their patients and newborn babies.