Miscellaneous provisions about midwifery

17 Attendance by unqualified persons at childbirth.

(1)

A person other than a registered midwife of a registered medical practitioner shall not attend a woman in childbirth.

F1(2)

Until the day appointed by the Secretary of State by an order under paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 4 to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, a man who is a registered midwife shall not attend a woman in childbirth except in a place approved in writing by or on behalf of the Secretary of State.

(3)

F2Subsection (1) does not apply—

(a)

where the attention is given in a case of sudden or urgent necessity; or

(b)

in the case of a person who, while undergoing training with a view to becoming a medical practitioner or to becoming a midwife, attends a woman in childbirth as part of a course of practical instruction in midwifery recognised by the General Medical Council or one of the National Boards.

(4)

A person who contravenes subsection (1)[F3or (2)] shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than F4level 4 on the standard scale