37-27-311. Informed consent. (1) Prior to accepting a woman for care, a licensed direct-entry midwife shall first obtain written, informed consent from the woman.

Terms Used In Montana Code 37-27-311

  • Board: means the alternative health care board established in 2-15-1730. See Montana Code 37-27-103
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Direct-entry midwife: means a person who advises, attends, or assists a woman during pregnancy, labor, natural childbirth, or the postpartum period. See Montana Code 37-27-103

(2)Informed consent must be evidenced by a written statement, in a form prescribed by the board and signed by the direct-entry midwife and the woman to whom care is to be given, in which the direct-entry midwife certifies that full disclosure has been made and acknowledged by the woman on the following:

(a)the direct-entry midwife’s educational background;

(b)the nature and scope of the care to be given, including the possibility of and procedure for transport of the patient to a hospital;

(c)the available alternatives to direct-entry midwifery care;

(d)a description of the risks of home birth, primarily those conditions that may arise during delivery;

(e)the fact that the patient has been advised to consult with a physician at least twice during the pregnancy;

(f)whether the midwifery services provided are located more than 50 miles from the nearest hospital; and

(g)that a health care provider’s liability in rendering care or assistance in good faith to a patient of a direct-entry midwife in an emergency situation is limited to damages caused by gross negligence or by willful or wanton acts or omissions.