ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the key concepts related to regulating the profession of midwifery, recognising that regulation is a social contract between the profession and society to protect the public. The regulation of health professions, including midwifery, is a social contract between a society and health professionals. Health professionals, including midwives, are regulated by boards, councils or professional colleges through many mechanisms such as employment conditions, remuneration and legislation relating to medicines as well as through inspection, scrutiny and audit of different aspects of their management and care. Foundational to the regulation of any profession are definition and protection of the title; definition of the scope of practice; and clarification of the work of the profession. Midwifery is the profession for midwives; only midwives practice midwifery. The global growth of co-regulatory models in health professional regulation has emerged following significant governance failures by health services and regulators resulting in loss of confidence in health organisations and regulatory bodies.
