Board Member Qualifications and Regulations

Qualifications for Board Members

• Mr. Meneses, a registered obstetrician, is qualified to be a member of the Board of Midwifery.
• The Chairman of the Board must have at least 10 years of practice.
• To qualify as a board member, an individual must be a registered midwife with at least 5 years of practice and be at least 30 years old.

Appointment and Pecuniary Interest

• Mrs. Antonio, prior to her appointment to the board, had a pecuniary interest in Sto.Nino Midwifery School.
• To avoid conflict of interest, Mrs. Antonio must resign from her position at Sto. Nino Midwifery School upon accepting the board appointment.

Term of Office

• The term of office for both the chair and members of the board is three years.
• The term of office refers to the prescribed period by law that an officer may claim to hold the position.

Public Office Characteristics

• Public offices are not inherited.
• Public offices are created for the benefit of the public and are not considered as personal property.
• Public offices must have some degree of permanency or continuity and are not temporary.

Removal from Board

• The chairman of the board cannot remove a board member without a replacement.
• This means that a replacement must be appointed before the current member can be removed.

Grounds for Removal

• Grounds for removal of a board member include: neglect of duty, incompetence, unprofessional conduct, and preventable suspension.

Board of Midwifery Roles

• The Board of Midwifery is governed by RA no. 7293.
• The board can establish ethical and professional standards for the practice of midwifery.
• The board can adopt rules and regulations but these are subject to the approval of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Board Power

• The board has the power to prepare examination papers and revoke licenses.
• This power is defined as quasi-judicial power, which allows the board to act as a judge in cases involving midwifery practice.

Inquisitorial Power

• The board has inquisitorial power which allows it to call for the production of relevant documents and require statements to be filed.
• The board can issue subpoenas.
• The board does not have the power to exempt individuals from taking the Board Examination.

Criteria for a Midwife

• A midwife is a licensed healthcare professional who assists women during childbirth.
• To become a midwife, individuals must pass the midwifery licensure examination.
• Midwives are authorized to administer oxytoxic drugs orally or parenterally after the delivery of the placenta, but cannot administer IV fluids during emergencies.
• Midwives can perform perineal laceration suturing following delivery and are authorized to inject Vitamin K to newborns.

Performing IE during Labor

• A licensed midwife is allowed to perform an internal examination during labor, but there are exceptions.
• For instance, an IE is not recommended if there is a risk of antenatal bleeding.