Rights of Women for Pregnancy and Childbirth

What you need to know about your Rights as a Patient:

Every woman has the following rights with regard to pregnancy
and childbirth:

1. The right to receive health care before, during, and after pregnancy and childbirth
2. The right to receive care for her and her infant that is consistent with generally accepted medical standards
3. The right to choose a certified nurse midwife or physician as her maternity care professional
4. The right to choose her birth setting from the full range of birthing options available in her community
5. The right to leave her maternity care professional and select another if she becomes dissatisfied with her care, except as otherwise provided by law
6. The right to receive information about the names of those health care professionals involved in her care
7. The right to privacy and confidentiality of records, except as provided by law
8. The right to receive information concerning her condition and proposed treatment, including methods of relieving pain
9. The right to accept or refuse any treatment, to the extent medically possible.
10. The right to be informed if her caregivers wish to enroll her or her infant in a research study
11. The right to access her medical records
12. The right to receive information in a language in which she can communicate
13. The right to receive emotional and physical support during labor and birth
14. The right to freedom of movement during labor and to give birth in the position of her choice, within generally accepted medical standards
15. The right to contact with her newborn, except where necessary care must be provided to the mother or infant
16. The right to receive information about breastfeeding
17. The right to decide collaboratively with caregivers when she and her baby will leave the birth site for home, based on their conditions and circumstances
18. The right to be treated with respect at all times before, during, and after pregnancy by her health care professionals
19. The right of each patient, regardless of source of payment, to examine and receive a reasonable explanation of her total bill for services rendered by her maternity care professional or health care provider, including itemized charges for specific services received. Each maternity care professional or health care provider shall be responsible only for a reasonable explanation of those specific services provided by the maternity care professional or health care provider.