How French Liberal Midwives Deal With the Domination of the Medical Profession
How French Liberal Midwives Deal With the Domination of the Medical Profession

Summary/Abstract: In France, an increasing number of midwives are choosing to work as liberal professionals. They are being granted new powers, but their relationships with general practitioners (GPs) or gynaecologists are often strained. The domination of doctors becomes apparent from the outset of midwifery training, in which midwives are regularly put under pressure, and the situation prevails throughout their professional life. Doctors barely recognize the skills of midwives (which are very similar and liable to compete with their own) and many would like to restrict the latter‟s activities and subordinate their role. Liberal profession midwives must make do with the current situation and accept this domination as they are not in a position of power. Nevertheless, as staffing changes are taking place in their favour, they have not had their final say yet: the short supply of gynaecologists means that midwives will soon become indispensable and pregnant women or young mothers will have a genuine need to use their services.

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