The College of Midwives of Ontario Blood Borne Viruses Standard will be rescinded effective January 1, 2026.
Why was the Blood Borne Viruses Standard rescinded?
The College of Midwives of Ontario Board rescinded the Blood Borne Virus Standard following recent policy changes made by other health regulators and after conducting an equity review. Some other factors that the Board considered are listed below.
Existing requirements in the Professional Standards for Midwives
Midwives have requirements in the Professional Standards for Midwives to appropriately manage illnesses in order to provide safe care, and to implement precautions to prevent compromised safety for their clients. These standards exist to protect clients from disease transmission, including diseases transmitted through exposure to blood.
Concerns around stigmatization of people living with HIV
The Blood Borne Virus Standard’s specific focus on blood borne virus transmission was disproportionate when other serious illnesses transmitted by respiratory or other types of exposure (for example, measles, flu, COVID-19, etc.) were not singled out.
A specific focus on transmission of blood borne viruses, such as HIV, indirectly stigmatizes individuals living with HIV. To apply certain rules primarily to this cohort of health care providers (who already face significant marginalization), and not to others who may live with similarly serious infectious diseases, may inadvertently communicate discriminatory views.
As part of the College’s commitment to equity, it was important to consider these factors in decision-making about maintaining or rescinding this standard.
Guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada
The College is confident that the existing guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada, in conjunction with Professional Standards for Midwives sufficiently protect the public. The Public Health Agency of Canada provides guidance for minimizing risk of midwife-to-client transmission of blood-borne viruses through exposure prone procedures. Midwives should understand and follow this guidance. You can access some of their relevant guiding documents below:
- Public Health Agency of Canada (2019) Guideline on the prevention of transmission of bloodborne viruses from infected healthcare workers in healthcare settings.
- Public Health Agency of Canada (2017) Routine practices and additional precautions for preventing the transmission of infection in healthcare settings.
What happens now?
There is no change to the practice of safe and ethical midwifery care. Midwives remain responsible for knowing their health status, managing their illnesses effectively, and ensuring that they use effective PPE to diminish any chance of communication of an infectious disease to their clients.
The Professional Standards for Midwives continues to require midwives to:
43. Ensure that any physical or mental health condition does not affect your ability to provide safe and effective care.
and
44. Recognize the limits imposed by fatigue, stress, or illness, and adjust your practice to the extent that is necessary to provide safe and effective care.
The College has published practice advice for midwives seeking guidance on how to continue to prevent health care associated infections.