Informed Consent

[louzannalady]

Just because you sign a consent form at admittance does not remove your legal right to informed consent and informed refusal. A provider has the legal obligation to give information on the risks and benefits of each drug and procedure they are introducing and make sure you consent each time they perform a procedure. 

Here is a way of talking with a provider (doctor or midwife or nurse) about your all of your options during labor, to help you make an informed decision. It is an acronym: BRAND.

B – What are the Benefits of this test, procedure, intervention?

R – What are the Risks of this test, procedure, intervention?

A – What are the Alternatives to this test, procedure, intervention?

N – What if I do Nothing?

D – Based on the information gathered, we make a Decision.

http://www.acog.org/Resources_And_Publications/Committee_Opinions/Committee_on_Ethics/Informed_Consent

http://www.aimsusa.org/ppbr.htm

http://myhealthfreedom.com/index.php?id=172 (Applies not only to VBAC's, but all births and is federal law!)

http://birthways.org/category/tips-from-a-midwife (Tips on talking to your provider.)

[mftmommy]

Great information and graphic!

[louzannalady]

Thank you! I actually created this one! Well, not the saying. Someone else came up with it, but it is SOOOO true! : )

Quoting mftmommy:

Great information and graphic!