The central aim of this thesis is to contribute to the optimization of ethics education in midwifery programs, developing a curricular framework that can complement current educational practice. The study endeavored to explore the current state of ethics education and to identify potential gaps in that education using surveys, focus groups, and interviews with midwifery educators, midwives and students. In addition, given the emphasis placed upon the process of shared decision-making and its role in the promotion of respectful and person-centered midwifery care, the research sought to explore shared decision-making in further detail.