The Pregnant Patient's Bill of Rights
The pregnant patient has the right to participate in decisions involving her well-being and that of
her unborn child, unless there is a clear-cut medical emergency that prevents her participation. In
addition to the right set forth in the American Hospital Association's "Patient's Bill Of Rights",
the pregnant patient, because she presents TWO patients rather than one, should be recognized as having
the additional rights listed below:
The Pregnant Patient Has The Right:
1 . Prior to the administration of any drug or procedure, to be informed by health professionals caring
for her, of any potential direct or indirect effects, risks or hazards to herself of her unborn or newborn
infant which may result from the use of a drug or procedure prescribed for, or administered to her,
during pregnancy, labor, birth or lactation.
2. Prior to the proposed therapy, to be informed, not only of the benefits, risks and hazards of the
proposed therapy, but also of known alternative therapy, such as available childbirth education classes
which could help to prepare the pregnant patient physically and mentally to cope with the discomfort
or stress of pregnancy and the experience of childbirth, thereby reducing or eliminating her need for
drugs and obstetric intervention. She should be offered such information early in her pregnancy, in
order that she may make a reasoned decision.
3. Prior to the administration of any drug, to be informed by the health professional who is prescribing
or administering the drug to her, that any drug which she receives during pregnancy, labor and birth,
no matter how or when the drug is taken or administered, may adversely affect her unborn baby, directly
or indirectly, and that there is no drug or IV chemical which has been proven safe for the unborn child.
4. If cesarean birth is anticipated, to be informed prior to the administration of any drug, and preferably
prior to her hospitalization, that minimizes the intake for her and her baby of non-essential preoperative
medicine, which will benefit her baby.
5. Prior to the administration of a drug or procedure, to be informed of the areas of uncertainty if
there is NO properly controlled follow-up research which has established the safety of the drug or procedure
with regard to its direct and/or indirect effects on the physiological, mental and neurological development
of the child exposed, via the mother, to the drug or procedure during pregnancy, labor, birth or lactation
(this would apply to virtually all drugs and the vast majority of obstetric procedures).
6. Prior to the administration of any drug, to be informed of the brand name and generic name of the
drug, in order that she may advise the health professional of any past adverse reaction to the drug.
7. To determine for herself, without pressure from her attendant, whether she will accept the risks
inherent in the proposed therapy, or refuse a drug or procedure.
8. To know the name and qualifications of the individual administering a medication or procedure to
her during labor or birth.
9. To be informed, prior to the administration of any procedure, whether the procedure is being administered
to her or for her baby's benefit (medically indicated) or as an elective procedure (for convenience,
teaching purposes or research).
10. To be accompanied during the stress of labor and birth by someone she cares for, and to whom she
looks for emotional comfort and encouragement.
11. After appropriate medical consultation to choose a position for labor and birth which is least
stressful to her baby and herself.
12. To have her baby cared for at her bedside, if her baby is normal, and to feed her baby according
to her baby's needs, rather than according to hospital regimen.
13, To be informed, in writing, of the name of the person who actually delivered her baby, and the
professional qualifications of that person. This information should also be on the birth certificate.
14. To be informed if there is any known or indicated aspect of her baby's care or condition which
may cause her or her baby later difficulty or problems.
15. To have her and her baby's hospital medical records complete, accurate and legible and to have
their records, including Nurses' Notes, retained by the hospital until the child reaches at least the
age of majority, or, alternatively, to have the records offered to her before they are destroyed.
16. Both during and after her hospital stay, has the right to have access to her complete hospital
medical records, including Nurses' Notes, and to receive a copy, upon payment of a reasonable fee and
without incurring the expense of retaining an attorney.
It is the obstetric patient and her baby, not the health professional, who must sustain any trauma
or injury resulting from the use of a drug or obstetric procedure. The observation of the rights listed
above will not only permit the obstetric patient to participate in the decisions involving her and her
baby's health care, but will help to protect the health professional and the hospital against litigation
arising from the resentment or misunderstanding on the part of the mother.