Book I: Medical professions

When setting up or changing their practice, midwives may publish advertisements in any medium, taking into account the recommendations issued by the Conseil national de l’ordre.

Midwives shall comply with the provisions of articles L. 1111-3-2 and L. 1111-3-3 with regard to informing patients of the costs of their services and the conditions for reimbursement and waiver of advance payment of such costs. A midwife who presents her activity to the public, in particular on a website, must include information on the fees charged, the methods of payment accepted and the obligations laid down by law…

A midwife who replaces one of her colleagues for a period of more than three months must not, for a period of two years, set up in a practice where she may enter into direct competition with the midwife whom she has replaced and, possibly, with midwives practising in association with her, unless there is an agreement between the parties concerned, which must be notified to the departmental council. Where…

A midwife may not employ another midwife or a student midwife on her behalf in the practice of her profession. However, the midwife may be assisted by another midwife in exceptional circumstances, in particular in the event of a considerable influx of people; in this case, authorisation is subject to an individual decision by the departmental council of the Association. If the departmental council remains silent, tacit authorisation is granted…

A midwife may not have her practice managed by another midwife. However, in the event of the death of a midwife, the departmental council may authorise another midwife to run her practice for a period of three months, renewable once if necessary.

Contracts and agreements relating to the practice of the profession of midwife must be in writing. Any association or partnership between midwives with a view to practising the profession must be the subject of a written contract which respects the independence of each of them. In accordance with the provisions of article L. 4113-9, contracts and amendments thereto must be communicated to the Conseil départemental de l’ordre to which they…

The usual place of practice for a midwife is that of the professional residence in respect of which she is registered on the roll of the Conseil Départemental de l’Ordre, in accordance with article L. 4112-1. However, in the interests of patients and new-born babies, a midwife may carry out her professional activity on one or more sites other than her usual professional residence: -where, in the geographical area in…

A midwife may not move into a building where another midwife is practising without the latter’s agreement or, failing that, without the authorisation of the Conseil Départemental de l’Ordre. Such authorisation may only be refused on grounds of risk of confusion for the public. Silence on the part of the departmental council will be deemed to constitute tacit authorisation on expiry of a period of two months from receipt of…

In practices where several practitioners work together, whatever their legal status, the practice of midwifery must remain personal. Each practitioner retains his or her professional independence. The patient’s free choice of midwife must be respected. Midwives may use documents on the common letterhead of the association or practice group of which they are a member. The signatory must be identifiable and her address must be given. In midwifery associations and…