Genomics and midwifery

In an editorial published almost two decades ago, midwife Tekoa L King noted that genetics – traditionally defined as the study of single genes – ‘has been replaced by genomics, which is the study of the function and interactions of all the genes in the genome’ and predicted that ‘the genomic revolution in health care is the real paradigm shift that will influence every patient encounter’ (King, 2005). By 2018, Tonkin et al (2018) reported that a UK one-day expert panel consensus meeting involving 15 midwives and three genetic counsellors had produced ‘the first competence-based education framework that defines the knowledge and skills in genetics/genomics required specifically by midwives’. The framework did not require midwives to practice outside of Nursing and Midwifery Council standards, but provided ‘a means for individuals and organisations to consider midwifery practice through a “genetic lens”’ (Tonkin et al, 2018).