Maternal Healthcare Bill of Rights

Everyone deserves respectful, equitable, and compassionate care throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. These principles can help you identify the care and support you deserve and advocate for your needs.

I have a right to be treated with respect and dignity and to have my individual identity, values, and experiences recognized, regardless of my race, ethnicity, skin color, age, country of origin, religion, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

1. I have a right to fair, equitable, and safe healthcare that prioritizes my physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

2. I have a right to request care that is culturally responsive and respectful of my values, needs, and preferences, regardless of my economic status.

3. I have a right to involve the people I choose to support me in my healthcare planning and decisions.

4. I have a right to ask questions, express my preferences, and discuss any aspect of my care plan with my healthcare providers.

5. I have a right to accessible information about my care, options, risks, and benefits so that I can make informed decisions.

6. I have a right to seek a second opinion about my care.

7. I have a right to speak up when I feel unheard or believe my concerns are being minimized or dismissed.

8. I have a right to express concerns without fear of retaliation or being unfairly labeled angry, aggressive, or difficult.

9. I have a right to raise concerns or file a grievance about discrimination, racism, or the quality of my care and to have those concerns addressed appropriately.

Written by Kima Tozay, LICSW, in collaboration with RTZ.

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