With Woman – Midwives as Termination Providers: A Look Back Through History

Abstract

Termination of pregnancy is a safe and legal part of healthcare in most Australian jurisdictions. Legislative changes have given women greater reproductive autonomy and removed the fear of prosecution. Despite midwives being recognised as ideal termination care providers most states and territories have only given doctors the legal right to perform terminations. Historically though, midwives have been the ones women trusted with their sexual and reproductive health, as well as pregnancy and birth care. The aim of this article is to provide a short journey through the history of midwives’ involvement in termination and why termination is regulated by legal frameworks.