B.C. Expanding Role of Midwives to Include Abortion Care
The province says the change will improve access to reproductive care as nearly 500 midwives gain new prescribing powers.
- On Thursday, two days after International Midwives Day, Health Minister Josie Osborne announced changes to expand the scope of practice for midwives, allowing them to provide more comprehensive care throughout the pregnancy journey.
- Osborne framed the move as vital for reproductive rights, contrasting the current approach with the "gutting of reproductive rights" elsewhere while emphasizing midwives as highly trained experts in pregnancy care.
- New authority allows midwives to prescribe medications for hypothyroidism and lactation suppression, perform clinical ultrasounds, and provide mifepristone for early-term medical abortions during the first trimester.
- Nearly 500 midwives, including 80 to 95 working in rural communities, will benefit from expanded roles as they currently manage almost one-in-three births through personalized, holistic care.
- The government will collaborate with the College and Nurses on necessary regulatory changes, though Osborne provided no firm timeline for implementation while an internal financial analysis is planned.
14 Articles
14 Articles
B.C. gov't to allow midwives to prescribe abortion pill and other drugs
Once the changes come into effect, midwives will be able to independently prescribe Mifegymiso, also known as RU 486, which can treat an early miscarriage in addition to providing a medical abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy.
The Toronto Star
British Columbia to let midwives prescribe abortion pill and other drugs
VICTORIA - British Columbia is giving midwives the ability to prescribe abortion pill Mifegymiso and other drugs, in an expansion of their scope of practice.
B.C. expanding scope of practice for midwives - Vanderhoof Omineca Express
B.C. is expanding the scope of practice for midwives in several ways, including prescribing the abortion pill to provide a safe, medical abortion in the first trimester. This makes B.C. one of just three jurisdictions in Canada to allow midwives to provide access to medical abortions early in pregnancy. Health Minister Josie Osborne announced the new changes on Thursday (May 7), two days after International Midwives Day. The changes will allow t…
Terrace Standard
B.C. expanding scope of practice for midwives
B.C. is expanding the scope of practice for midwives in several ways, including prescribing the abortion pill to provide a safe, medical abortion in the first trimester. This makes B.C. one of just three jurisdictions in Canada to allow midwives to provide access to medical abortions early in pregnancy. Health Minister Josie Osborne announced the new changes on Thursday (May 7), two days after International Midwives Day. The changes will allow t…
British Columbia to let midwives prescribe abortion pill and other drugs – Energeticcity.ca
VICTORIA — British Columbia is giving midwives the ability to prescribe abortion pill Mifegymiso and other drugs, in an expansion of their scope of practice. The province says the changes will make it easier for people to access reproductive health services in the province. Once the changes come into effect, midwives will be able to independently prescribe Mifegymiso, also known as RU 486, which can treat an early miscarriage in addition to prov…
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