Midwives, Are You Covered? 5 Questions to Ask About Professional Liability Insurance

Ginger Breedlove, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, Founder and Principal Consultant of Grow Midwives LLC and Member, TDC Group APC Advisory Board

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For many midwives, the question of malpractice insurance likely comes up twice: first when considering a job offer, and second when a concerning case arises. In that second instance, midwives may question whether there’s a significant risk that needs to be reported, followed by wondering what the steps are to report. At this moment, some midwives may realize with a sinking feeling that they don’t understand the details of their insurance coverage.

Midwives face distinct, significant, and long-lasting liability risks, and providing excellent care is not enough to mitigate them.

Lawsuits can and do arise in the absence of medical error, and most healthcare practitioners will be targeted at least once in their career. Yet many midwives do not know what professional liability insurance they already have, as they are so immersed in providing care, while others may be under financial pressure from student loans to take the first job that’s offered. I encourage all midwives to get business smart and empower themselves with knowledge regarding the types of professional liability insurance relevant to their practice.

Like all healthcare professionals, midwives are working at the intersection of social, professional, economic, and institutional factors that are beyond our control—but we can control how we choose to protect ourselves.

I’m approaching the half-century mark in my midwifery practice, and my career has encompassed tertiary care settings, community birth settings, academic teaching, and midwifery practice consulting. These experiences have confirmed that careful consideration of liability coverage options is essential for midwives to protect our licenses, our reputations, our professional and geographic mobility, and our long-term financial health.

The following are answers to questions I commonly hear from midwives.

Advancing Our Profession

Many midwives are uncomfortable discussing liability, but we need to have certain uncomfortable conversations to advance the profession of midwifery. Otherwise, midwives can find themselves stranded in a position or a location they would like to leave because they cannot afford the tail coverage that would allow them to move on to new opportunities.

We can enjoy immersing ourselves in our work and focusing on our patients when we know we are covered, come what may. Consider requesting a quote for professional liability insurance tailored for you.

The Social Determinants of Health: What Medical Professionals Need to Know

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Get affordable, top-tier malpractice insurance coverage specifically made for midwives.

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The guidelines suggested here are not rules, do not constitute legal advice, and do not ensure a successful outcome. The ultimate decision regarding the appropriateness of any treatment must be made by each healthcare provider considering the circumstances of the individual situation and in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which the care is rendered.

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The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of The Doctors Company. We provide a platform for diverse perspectives and healthcare information, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the author.


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