The modern-day witch hunt

This chapter unashamedly addresses the oppression of midwives who attend women at home, in particular, midwives who support women who make choices that are not aligned with mainstream maternity care expectations. We describe this as a modern-day witch hunt. Briefly, we trace the historical evidence on the oppression of midwives, including the classic Middle Ages witch-hunt era, and we then examine four recent cases of midwives, in four different countries, who have been targeted for supporting homebirth choices. We discuss the research undertaken into midwives in Australia who have been reported to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA) and describe the impact the reporting has on their health and well-being. Finally, we provide strategies for dealing with the issue and a way forward.