A new challenge for midwives and medical doctors in time of the threat of a mass terrorist attack and a life threatening mass disaster

Purpose:To present the results of research and evaluation study of the legal regulations and rules directly linked and connected to midwives' scope of practice and provide a response on how the professional population of midwives can act as adequate and independent medical providers in the threat of a mass terrorist attack and/or a life-threatening mass disaster event. Materials and methods: The data derives from the Supreme Chamber of Nurses and Midwives in Poland; National Council of Nurses and Midwives in Poland; Gazette of the Republic of Poland, Journal of Laws; curriculum outlines for professional midwifery higher education in Poland; scientific literature, scientific recommendations. The qualitative research method to the data sources in 2018 were used. Results: In the event of a mass terrorist attack and/or a life-threatening mass disaster, the possibility of a pregnant, birthing or postpartum woman and her newborn obtaining proper medical attention from a midwife is questionable. Conclusions:The threat of terrorism in the European Union has grown. A new implications are necessary for policy and practice to keep midwives in their profession to provide adequate quality and quantity of health care in event of a mass terrorist attack and/or a life-threatening mass disaster. In our study we found: a terrorist threat as a gap in the teaching of obstetrics and midwifery; restricted availability of pharmacological agents for use by non-military midwives in event of a terrorist attack and/or a life-threatening mass disaster; lack of authorizations under a midwife license to perform PCD and /or PMCD.