Section 17 Attendance by unqualified persons at childbirth.

United Kingdom

(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

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: S. 17(2) repealed (1. 4. 1993) by Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1992 c. 16, ss. 16(2), Sch.3; S.I. 1993/588, art.2
F2: Words in s. 17(3) substituted (1. 4. 1993) by Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1992 (c. 16), s. 16(1), Sch. 2 para. 6; S.I. 1993/588, art.2
F3: Words in s. 17(4) repealed (1. 4. 1993) by Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1992 (c. 16), ss. 16(2), Sch.3; S.I. 1993/588, art.3
F4: Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 46, (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), s. 289G and (N.I.) by S.I. 1984/703, (N.I. 3), art. 5

Notes on the whole Act

Textual amendments

F1: Act repealed (except ss. 23(4), 24, Sch. 7) (19.6.1997) by 1997 c. 24, ss. 23(3), 24(2), Sch. 6