Introduction. The changes in the Polish legislation regulating the performance of the professions of a nurse and a midwife which have taken place since January 2012 generate a necessity to analyse the level of knowledge of the legal conditions of practising the profession in these professional groups. Aim. The aim of the study is the attempt to assess the knowledge of the principles of professional liability as dependent on education held among midwives. Material and methods. The study included 100 midwives from Warsaw hospitals as well as primary health care units. Respondents were divided into two groups. Group I covered 50 midwives with a completed medical vocational school/secondary school, Group II – 50 midwives with completed midwifery studies. The mean age in Group I – 55 years, in Group II – 29 years. The study was conducted between 22 October 2012 and 17 January 2013 using a questionnaire of the authors’ own design. The participation in the study was voluntary and anonymous. Midwives received the survey questionnaire. The questionnaire – 34 questions, 30 single or multiple choice closed questions, 2 semi-open questions and 2 open questions (age, length of work). Results. No significant influence of the level of education on the state of knowledge of legal regulations concerning the performance of the nursing profession was disclosed in the study group. Nevertheless, statistical significance showing differences between the study groups was found, among others, in questions concerning the date of being awarded the right to practise the profession (p<0.014), the source document regulating professional liability (p<0.044), the scope of bearing professional liability (p<0.034) as well as the body keeping the register of nurses and midwives penalised (p<0.052). Conclusions. 1. In the study group the knowledge of professional liability regulated by legal acts currently in force was insufficient and requires to be complemented. 2. In the study group of midwives the level of education affected the level of knowledge of the professional liability of nurses and midwives – midwives with higher education showed a higher level knowledge of professional liability than the study group of midwives with medium-level education.

Key words: midwives, professional liability, knowledge.