There was a serious outcome at my birth.

Request the complete records — midwifery, hospital and newborn — and get legal advice promptly. Birth injury claims are complex, high-value, and subject to limitation periods with special rules for minors.

Should transfer of care have happened sooner?

That is the most commonly raised issue in midwifery complaints, and it turns on the clinical record and the applicable standards at the time.

College of Midwives of Ontario — Complaints & Birth Outcomes

College of Midwives of Ontario

This College regulates midwives in Ontario. Complaints most often concern **timing of transfer of care** to a physician or hospital, adequacy of monitoring during labour, and whether informed choice discussions genuinely covered risks. Adverse birth outcomes are among the highest-value negligence claims in Canadian law, so the civil route usually matters more than the complaint.

What it does

Registers midwives and maintains a public register
Investigates conduct, competence and capacity complaints
Sets standards on informed choice, monitoring and transfer of care
Refers matters to its Discipline Committee

Matters it hears

Timing of transfer of care to a physician or hospital
Fetal and maternal monitoring during labour
Informed choice discussions and documentation
Postpartum and newborn care

Appeals & review

Appeals generally go to Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB).

Appeal and review deadlines are short and strictly applied. Treat the decision date as the start of a clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

There was a serious outcome at my birth.: Request the complete records — midwifery, hospital and newborn — and get legal advice promptly. Birth injury claims are complex, high-value, and subject to limitation periods with special rules for minors.
Should transfer of care have happened sooner?: That is the most commonly raised issue in midwifery complaints, and it turns on the clinical record and the applicable standards at the time.

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General information about jurisdiction and process, not legal advice. LegalCounselNearMe is not a law firm and is not affiliated with College of Midwives of Ontario. Procedures, forms and fees change — the official site is authoritative.