Midwifery and family practice.

With the release of the report of the Task Force on the Implementation of Midwifery in Ontario, in October 1987, it is clear that midwives will be legally practising in this province in the near future and probably, with time, in the rest of Canada also. Does this prospect pose a threat to family practitioners who wish to continue doing obstetrics? The author of this paper discusses the recommendations of the Task Force and argues that the introduction of midwifery should not be seen as representing competition for family physicians but as a positive step which may provide collaboration for low-risk maternity care. A number of models of co-operation are presented.