Empowering Your Journey: A Guide to Your Rights
This resource was designed to help birthing people clearly understand their rights throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
Historically, too many individuals, particularly Black birthing people, have faced environments where their concerns were minimized, questions went unanswered, or medical decisions were made without their input. We created this guide as a simple, empowering tool to translate complex rights into plain language, ensuring you remain the primary lead in your own care.
How to Use This Resource
This guide is intended to be both a reminder and a roadblock remover. We encourage you to:
Prepare: Review it before prenatal appointments to help shape your questions.
Advocate: Keep it handy during labor and delivery to support conversations with your care team.
Reflect: Refer back to it during postpartum care to ensure your recovery is being respected.
Your Voice, Your Care
At its heart, this resource is about agency. It provides the language needed to reinforce your right to be heard, informed, and respected.
Whether you are navigating a routine check-up or a complex delivery, remember: your instincts matter. You deserve safe, respectful, and patient-centered care every single step of the way.
An informed patient is a powerful advocate for their own well-being.
Do Hospitals and Practitioners Have to Follow This?
Hospitals and practitioners are legally and ethically required to uphold patient rights. Most healthcare facilities have their own formal Patient Bill of Rights, and the principles outlined in this resource align with federal protections, accreditation standards, and core medical ethics. This visual includes the fundamental requirements for informed consent, privacy, and nondiscrimination.
It is important to note that while this graphic is not a legal document or a formal regulation, it serves as a clear, accessible bridge to help birthing people understand and exercise their rights. It is a tool designed to ensure that both the institution and the individual provider remain committed to your safety, dignity, and autonomy.
