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School of Nursing & Midwifery

Bachelor in Science in Midwifery Honours Degree programme

MW3204 -Ethical and Legal Issues (5 ECTS)

Learning Outcomes

Following completion of this module the student should be able to:

  • Critically discuss the main ethical and legal principles that affect, impact on and are relevant to midwifery practice and maternity services in Ireland;
  • Relate these principles to issues concerned with reproductive health and care provision;
  • Critically analyse some of the legal and ethical dilemmas in midwifery practice and identify a process of reaching resolution;
  • Critically discuss the issues involved relating to professional standards and professional negligence;
  • Demonstrate the skills and traits, which permit articulate, reasoned and deliberate debate and discussion.

Module Learning Aims

This module aims to prepare midwifery students to practise in a manner that upholds ethical principles
and the concepts of informed choice, advocacy and consent, confidentiality and matter that are
fundamental to midwifery practice and reproductive health.

Recommended Reading List

  • An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (2014) Code of Professional Conduct for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwife. Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann, Dublin.
  • An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (2015) Practice Standards for Midwives. Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann, Dublin.
  • Beauchamp T.L. and Childress J.F. (2008) Principles of Biomedical Ethics, 6th edn. Oxford University Press, New York.
  • Dimond B. (2006) Legal Aspects of Midwifery, 3rd edn. Books for Midwives, Oxford.
  • Fraser D. (ed.) (2000) Professional Studies for Midwifery Practice. Churchill Livingstone, London.
  • Frith L. and Draper H. (eds.) (2004) Ethics and Midwifery, 2nd edn. Books for Midwives, London.
  • Jackson E. (2009) Medical Law. Text, Cases and Materials, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  • Madden D. (2002) Medicine, Ethics and the Law. Butterworths, Dublin.
  • Raynor M., Marchall J. and Sullivan A. (2005) Decision Making in Midwifery Practice. Churchill Livingstone, UK.
  • Schweppe J. (ed.) (2008) The Unborn Child, Article 40.3.3 and Abortion in Ireland. The Liffey Press, Dublin.
  • Thompson F. (2004) Mothers and Midwives - The Ethical Journey. Books for Midwives, Edinburgh.


* Additional readings will be given for each unit of learning.