Bill 25 - An Act to Amend the Midwifery Act

BILL 25

An Act to Amend the Midwifery Act

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, enacts as follows:

1 Section 1 of the Midwifery Act, chapter M-11.5 of the Acts of New Brunswick, 2008, is amended

(a) by repealing the definition “midwife” and substituting the following:

“midwife”, unless the context otherwise requires, means a person registered in the active practice register, the temporary register or a roster. (sage-femme)

(b) by repealing the definition « membre » in the French version and substituting the following:

« membre » Sauf indication contraire du contexte, s’entend de toute personne dont le nom est inscrit au tableau de l’Ordre et, dans le cadre de toute mesure disciplinaire prise et de toute enquête faite en vertu de la présente loi, s’entend également de toute personne dont l’inscription est suspendue ou révoquée ou dont l’inscription a expiré ou encore qui a démissionné. (member)

( i) in paragraph (a) by striking out “midwifery practice” and substituting “the practice of midwifery”;

( ii) in paragraph d) of the French version by striking out “d’une sage-femme” and substituting “d’un membre”;

( iii) in paragraph (j) by striking out “professional midwifery status” and substituting “midwife or student midwife status”;

( iv) in paragraph k) of the French version by striking out “pour elle-même” and substituting “personnel”;

(d) in the definition « incapacité » of the French version by striking out “Signifie, en ce qui concerne une sage-femme, que la maladie ou les troubles physiques ou mentaux dont elle souffre,” and “restrictions, et « incapable »” and substituting “État d’un membre ayant une maladie ou des troubles physiques ou mentaux ou émotionnels ou souffrant d’alcoolisme ou de toxicomanie qui” and “restrictions. « Incapable »”, respectively;

(e) in the definition « incompétence » in the French version by striking out “une sage-femme, que les soins professionnels dispensés à un patient” and “du patient” and substituting “un membre, que les soins professionnels dispensés à une patiente” and “de la patiente”, respectively;

(f) by adding the following definition in alphabetical order:

“student midwife” means a person registered in the student register under section 20. (étudiante sage-femme)

2 Section 2 of the Act is amended

(a) by repealing subsection (1) and substituting the following:

2( 1) In this Act, subject to subsections (3) and (4), “practice of midwifery” means the provision of reproductive health care to individuals of childbearing age; the care, assessment and monitoring of parents during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period and the care, assessment and monitoring of their healthy infants; and the management of low-risk vaginal deliveries.

(b) in subsection (2) in the portion preceding paragraph (a) by striking out “midwife” and substituting “member”;

2( 3) In this Act, in the case of a person who is registered in the temporary register or a roster, “practice of midwifery” means the provision of the health care services determined by the Council.

2( 4) In this Act, in the case of a student midwife, “practice of midwifery” means the provision of health care services that form part of their program of study under the direct supervision of a midwife registered in the active practice register.

3 Subsection 3(1) of the French version of the Act is amended

(a) in paragraph a) by striking out “une sage-femme” and substituting “un membre”;

(b) in paragraph b) by striking out “la sage-femme” and substituting “le membre”;

4 Section 5 of the Act is amended

(a) in the portion preceding paragraph (a) by striking out “7 members” and substituting “up to 10 members”;

(b) in paragraph (a) by striking out “as midwives” and substituting “as practising midwives”;

(f) a minimum of one lay person and a maximum of four lay persons who have never practised midwifery.

5 Section 19 of the English version of the Act is amended by striking out “his or her” and substituting “the Registrar’s”.

6 Section 20 of the Act is amended

(a) in paragraph (b) by striking out “is eligible for registration as a midwife upon the completion of the requirements for registration are entered; and” and substituting “is eligible to be entered in the active practice register on the completion of the requirements for registration are entered;”;

(b) by adding after paragraph (b) the following:

(b.1) a student register in which the name and address of every person who is enrolled in a midwifery education program at an approved school of midwives and who is eligible to be entered in the active practice register on the completion of the requirements of the midwifery education program and the requirements for registration are entered; and

(c) in paragraph (c) by striking out “the active practice register or the temporary register” and substituting “the active practice register, the temporary register or the student register”.

7 Section 21 of the Act is amended

(a) by renumbering the section as subsection 21(1);

(b) in subsection (1) by repealing the portion preceding paragraph (a) and substituting the following:

21( 1) Subject to the requirements of this Act and the regulations, an applicant who applies to the Registrar on a form provided by the Registrar is entitled to have their name entered in the active practice register, the temporary register or a roster if the applicant provides the Registrar with the evidence as may be required to establish that the applicant

21( 2) Subject to the requirements of this Act and the regulations, an applicant who applies to the Registrar on a form provided by the Registrar is entitled to have their name entered in the student register if the applicant provides the Registrar with the evidence as may be required to establish that the applicant

(a) is enrolled in a midwifery program at an approved school of midwives, and

(b) has met any requirements for registration determined by the Registrar.

8 The heading “Registration in active practice register” preceding section 23 of the Act is repealed.

9 Section 23 of the Act is repealed.

10 Section 24 of the Act is repealed and the following is substituted:

24 A member who was engaged in the practice of midwifery in the Province and who was subject to any disciplinary findings while engaged in the practice of midwifery outside the Province or who has outstanding complaints from outside the Province shall not engage in the practice of midwifery on the member’s return to the Province unless the member has

(a) provided the Council with notice of the disciplinary findings or complaints, and

(b) received a notice from the Council that the member is authorized to resume the practice of midwifery in the Province.

11 Section 26 of the Act is repealed and the following is substituted:

Prohibition re practice

26 A person whose name is not entered in the active practice register, the temporary register or a roster shall not practise as a midwife or hold themselves out as a midwife, or take or use the designation “midwife”, “registered midwife”, “sage-femme” or “sage-femme inscrite” or other designations, either alone or in combination with other words, letters or description, that imply the person is entitled to practise as a midwife.

12 The Act is amended by adding after section 26 the following:

Prohibition re student midwives

26.1 A person whose name is not entered in the student register shall not practise as a midwife or hold themselves out as a student midwife, or take or use the designation “student midwife” or “étudiante sage-femme” or other designations, either alone or in combination with other words, letters or description, that imply the person is entitled to practise as a student midwife.

13 Section 27 of the Act is amended

(a) in subsection (1) of the French version

( i) in paragraph a) by striking out “de la sage-femme” and substituting “du membre”;

( ii) in paragraph c) by striking out “de la sage-femme” and substituting “du membre”;

(b) by repealing subsection (2) and substituting the following:

27( 2) The Registrar shall remove or cause the removal of the name of any person from one or more of the registers or rosters who does not have the qualifications or who fails to meet or maintain the requirements for registration in the register or roster.

14 The heading “Notification” preceding section 28 of the French version of the Act is repealed and the following is substituted:

Avis au membre

15 Section 28 of the French version of the Act is repealed and the following is substituted:

28 Le registraire avise sans délai le membre dont le nom est radié du tableau de l’Ordre de la radiation. Cet avis se fait par courrier recommandé à la dernière adresse du membre qui figure dans le tableau.

16 Section 29 of the French version of the Act is amended by striking out “La sage-femme” and substituting “Le membre”.

17 Section 31 of the Act is amended

(a) in subsection (1) by striking out “midwife” and “midwife’s registration” and substituting “member” and “registration of the member”, respectively;

(b) in subsection (2) by striking out “midwife” and substituting “member”.

18 Section 32 of the Act is amended by striking out “midwife, unless” and substituting “midwife or student midwife unless”.

19 Section 33 of the Act is amended

(a) in subsection (1) of the French version by striking out “, toute sage-femme” and “d’une patiente ou d’un patient” and substituting “tout membre” and “d’une patiente”, respectively;

(b) in subsection (2) of the French version by striking out “N’est pas tenue” and “, la sage-femme” and substituting “N’est pas tenu” and “le membre”, respectively;

(d) in subsection (4) of the French version

( i) in paragraph a) by striking out “de la sage-femme” and substituting “du membre”;

( ii) in paragraph c) by striking out “la sage-femme” and substituting “le membre”;

( iii) in paragraph d) by striking out “de la patiente ou du patient” and “qu’elle croit” and substituting “de la patiente” and “que le membre croit”, respectively;

(e) in subsection (5) of the French version by striking out “d’un patient” and “s’il y consent ou dans le cas où il ou elle” and substituting “d’une patiente” and “si elle y consent ou, dans le cas où elle”, respectively;

(f) in subsection (6) of the French version by striking out “une sage-femme” and substituting “un membre”;

(g) in subsection (7) of the French version by striking out “d’une patiente ou d’un patient” and substituting “d’une patiente”.

20 Section 34 of the Act is repealed and the following is substituted:

Employer’s responsibility

34 Every person, other than a patient or any person acting on behalf of a patient free of charge and without expectation of remuneration, who engages a person as a midwife or student midwife and every agency that procures work for a person as a midwife or student midwife

(a) shall ensure at the time of engagement, and at least once each year after that if the engagement is continuing, that the person is the holder of an appropriate current registration under this Act and is not engaged to perform duties and functions contrary to any restrictions imposed on the person’s registration, and

(b) if a person’s engagement as a midwife or student midwife is terminated because of dishonesty, incompetence or incapacity, shall without delay report the matter to the Council and provide a copy of the report to the person whose engagement is terminated.

21 Section 37 of the French version of the Act is amended by striking out “pratiquait la profession de sage-femme” and substituting “était membre”.

22 Subsection 38(2) of the Act is amended

(a) in paragraph (a) by striking out “as midwives” and substituting “in the active practice register”;

(b) in paragraph (b) by striking out “as midwives” and substituting “in the active practice register”.

23 Section 39 of the French version of the Act is amended

(a) in subsection (1) by striking out “une sage-femme” and substituting “un membre”;

(b) in subsection (3) by striking out “une sage-femme” and “chez elle” and substituting “un membre” and “chez lui”, respectively.

24 Section 40 of the French version of the Act is amended by striking out “d’une sage-femme peuvent constituer une faute professionnelle ou peuvent dénoter chez elle” and substituting “d’un membre peuvent constituer une faute professionnelle ou peuvent dénoter chez lui”.

25 Section 41 of the French version of the Act is amended by striking out “d’une sage-femme peuvent constituer une faute professionnelle ou peuvent dénoter chez elle” and substituting “d’un membre peuvent constituer une faute professionnelle ou peuvent dénoter chez lui”.

26 Section 42 of the of the Act is amended

(a) in subsection (1) of the French version

( i) in the portion preceding paragraph a) by striking out “une sage-femme a commis une faute professionnelle, est incompétente ou une incapable” and substituting “un membre a commis une faute professionnelle ou est incompétent ou incapable”;

( ii) in paragraph a) by striking out “la sage-femme” and substituting “le membre”;

(b) in subsection (2) by striking out “his or her appointment” and substituting “the investigator’s appointment”;

(c) in subsection (3) of the English version by striking out “his or her duties” and substituting “the investigator’s duties”.

27 The heading “Notification” preceding section 46 of the French version of the Act is repealed and the following is substituted:

Avis au membre

28 Subsection 46(1) of the French version of the Act is amended

(a) in the portion preceding paragraph a) by striking out “d’une sage-femme doit” and substituting “d’un membre est tenu de”;

(b) in paragraph a) by striking out “lui en donner notification” and substituting “en aviser le membre”;

b) au moment de donner l’avis, fournir au membre une copie de tous les rapports, documents et éléments de preuve qui lui ont été présentés par écrit, lesquels se rapportent à la plainte, sauf les documents privilégiés;

(d) in paragraph c) by striking out “l’aviser qu’elle” and substituting “aviser le membre que ce dernier”.

29 The heading “Des examens que doit subir la sage-femme” preceding section 47 of the French version of the Act is repealed and the following is substituted:

Examens auxquels le membre peut être soumis

30 Section 47 of the Act is amended

(a) by repealing subsection (1) of the French version and substituting the following:

47( 1) S’il a des motifs raisonnables de croire que le membre visé par l’enquête est frappé d’incapacité, le comité des plaintes peut exiger que ce dernier subisse un examen physique ou mental ou les deux examens et que ceux-ci soient administrés par une ou plusieurs personnes compétentes qu’il choisit. Dans ce cas, il peut, sous réserve du paragraphe (3), enjoindre au registraire de suspendre le permis d’exercice du membre jusqu’à ce que ce dernier subisse les examens en question.

(b) by repealing subsection (2) of the French version and substituting the following:

47( 2) S’il a des motifs raisonnables de croire que le membre visé par l’enquête est incompétent, le comité des plaintes peut exiger que ce dernier subisse les examens relatifs aux aptitudes et aux connaissances nécessaires pour exercer sa profession qu’il indique. Dans ce cas, il peut, sous réserve du paragraphe (3), enjoindre au registraire de suspendre le permis d’exercice du membre jusqu’à ce que ce dernier subisse les examens en question.

( i) in the portion preceding paragraph a) by striking out “le permis d’exercice d’une sage-femme” and substituting “un permis d’exercice”;

( ii) in paragraph a) by striking out “la sage-femme” and substituting “le membre concerné”;

( iii) in paragraph b) by striking out “la sage-femme” and substituting “il”;

(d) in subsection (4) of the English version by striking out “his or her findings” and substituting “the person’s findings”;

(e) in subsection (5) of the French version by striking out “à la sage-femme visée” and substituting “au membre visé”;

(f) in subsection (7) of the French version by striking out “qu’une sage-femme” and substituting “qu’un membre”;

(g) in subsection (8) of the French version by striking out “la sage-femme” and substituting “le membre”.

31 Section 48 of the French version of the Act is amended

(a) in subsection (1)

( i) in the portion preceding paragraph a) by striking out “la sage-femme” and substituting “le membre”;

( ii) in paragraph c) by striking out “à la sage-femme” and substituting “au membre”;

(b) in subsection (2) by striking out “à la sage-femme visée” and substituting “au membre visé”.

32 Section 49 of the French version of the Act is amended

(a) in subsection (1)

( i) in paragraph a) by striking out “de la sage-femme visée” and substituting “du membre visé”;

( ii) in paragraph b) by striking out “de la sage-femme” and substituting “du membre”;

(b) in subsection (2) by striking out “il doit notifier par écrit la sage-femme de sa décision et de ses motifs et la sage-femme doit avoir” and substituting “il avise par écrit le membre de sa décision et de ses motifs, donnant à ce dernier”;

33 Section 50 of the Act is amended

(a) in subsection (1) of the French version by striking out “d’une sage-femme” and substituting “d’un membre”;

(b) in subsection (2) of the French version by striking out “à la sage-femme” and substituting “au membre”;

(d) in subsection (4) of the French version by striking out “à la sage-femme” and substituting “au membre”.

34 Section 52 of the French version of the Act is amended by striking out “la sage-femme” and substituting “le membre”.

35 Section 54 of the French version of the Act is amended

(a) in subsection (2) by striking out “d’une sage-femme” and substituting “d’un membre”;

(b) in subsection (3) by striking out “la sage-femme” and substituting “le membre”.

36 Subsection 55(4) of the French version of the Act is amended by striking out “de la sage-femme visée” and substituting “du membre visé”.

37 Subsection 56(2) of the French version of the Act is amended by striking out “une sage-femme” and substituting “un membre”.

38 The heading “Absence from hearing” preceding section 57 of the Act is amended by striking out “from hearing” and substituting “of member from hearing”.

39 Section 57 of the French version of the Act is amended

(a) in the portion preceding paragraph a) by striking out “à la sage-femme visée” and substituting “au membre visé”;

(b) in paragraph b) by striking out “prendre et ce, sans autre avis à la sage-femme” and substituting “prendre, et ce, sans lui signifier un autre avis”.

40 Section 58 of the French version of the Act is amended by striking out “la sage-femme visée” and “s’assurer que la sage-femme ait” and substituting “le membre visé” and “accorder au membre”, respectively.

41 Section 59 of the French version of the Act is amended

(a) in subsection (1) in the portion preceding paragraph a) by striking out “à la sage-femme visée” and substituting “au membre visé”;

(b) in subsection (2) by striking out “La sage-femme visée” and substituting “Le membre visé”;

42 Section 68 of the Act is amended by striking out “who is a midwife” and substituting “who is in the active practice register”.

43 Section 70 of the French version of the Act is amended

(a) in paragraph (1)b) by striking out “de la sage-femme” and substituting “du membre”;

(b) in subsection (2)

( i) in the portion preceding paragraph a) by striking out “de la sage-femme” and substituting “du membre”;

( ii) in paragraph a) by striking out “la” and substituting “le”;

(c) in subsection (3) in the portion preceding paragraph a) by striking out “à l’endroit de la sage-femme” and substituting “à son endroit”;

(d) in subsection (6) by striking out “de la sage-femme” and substituting “du membre”.

44 Section 72 of the French version of the Act is amended

(a) in subsection (1) by striking out “la sage-femme” and substituting “le membre”;

(b) by repealing subsection (2) and substituting the following:

72( 2) Le registraire avise sans délai la sage-femme de la suspension ou de la révocation de son permis d’exercice et ce, par écrit.

45 Section 77 of the French version of the Act is amended

(a) in subsection (1) by striking out “La sage-femme” and substituting “Le membre”;

(b) in subsection (2) by striking out “La sage-femme” and substituting “Le membre”.

46 Paragraph 78a) of the French version of the Act is repealed and the following is substituted:

a) il en avise sans délai :

( i) le ministre,

( ii) le responsable du régime des services médicaux du Nouveau-Brunswick,

( iii) le responsable de tout hôpital, clinique ou autre établissement ou agence qui paie des honoraires au membre et où ce dernier avait des privilèges,

( iv) toute personne que les règlements indiquent;

47 The heading “Demande de renseignements à propos de la sage-femme” preceding section 79 of the French version of the Act is amended by striking out “de la sage-femme” and substituting “du membre”.

48 Section 79 of the French version of the Act is amended by striking out “de la sage-femme” and substituting “du membre”.

49 The heading “Consignation au tableau et registre des dispositifs” preceding section 81 of the French version of the Act is amended by striking out “et registre”.

50 Section 81 of the French version of the Act is amended

(a) in subsection (4)

( i) in the portion preceding paragraph a) by striking out “une sage-femme inscrite au tableau de l’Ordre ou qui y a déjà été inscrite” and substituting “un membre, actuel ou un ancien”;

( ii) in paragraph a) by striking out “elle a été déclarée” and substituting “lui a été déclaré”;

(b) in subsection (5) by striking out “une sage-femme inscrite au tableau de l’Ordre ou qui l’a déjà été” and substituting “un membre, actuel ou ancien”.

51 Section 82 of the Act is amended by striking out “section 26 commits an offence punishable under Part II” and substituting “section 26 or 26.1 commits an offence punishable under Part 2”.

52 Section 83 of the Act is amended by striking out “under Part II” and substituting “under Part 2”.

53 Section 84 of the Act is amended by striking out “under Part II” and substituting “under Part 2”.

54 Section 85 of the Act is amended by striking out “under Part II” and substituting “under Part 2”.

55 Section 93 of the French version of the Act is amended by striking out “une sage-femme,”.

56 Section 95 of the Act is amended

(a) in subsection (1) of the English version

( i) in paragraph (a) by striking out “him or her” and substituting “the person”;

( ii) in paragraph (b) by striking out “him or her” and substituting “the person”;

(b) in subsection (2) by striking out “under Part II” and substituting “under Part 2”.

57 Section 99 of the Act is amended

(a) in paragraph (c) by striking out “midwife” and substituting “member”;

(b) by repealing paragraph (d) and substituting the following:

(d) respecting the registration of applicants, including qualifications for registration and continued registration in the active practice register, the temporary practice register, the student register or a roster;

(d) in paragraph (q) by striking out “midwife” and substituting “member”.

58 This Act or any provision of it comes into force on a day or days to be fixed by proclamation.