Workplace violence against midwives and midwifery students: moral dilemmas and challenges for Healthcare Ethics Consultation (HEC)

This study investigates workplace violence (WPV) against midwives and midwifery students in Italy, a phenomenon still little explored in maternity care settings. An anonymous online survey was conducted to explore experiences of violence and bullying in clinical contexts. A total of 1059 questionnaires were collected (687 midwives and 372 students): 45% of midwives and 27% of students reported having experienced violence, mainly verbal abuse. The main perpetrators were identified as women’s partners or family members, patients, and physicians; among students, supervising midwives and other midwives were most frequently reported. More than half of the victims did not formally report the incidents. Consequences included thoughts of leaving their job or course of study and a reduction in professional satisfaction. The study highlights important moral dilemmas and suggests a potential role for Healthcare Ethics Consultation as ethical and organizational support.