Maternal Patient Rights of Women(Pregnancy, Childbirth and Breastfeeding)
Maternal health is the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Childbearing women frequently are not aware of their legal right to make healthcare choices on behalf of themselves and their babies. Access to medical care before, during, and after childbirth is essential to the health and wellbeing of each mother.
Under 410 ILCS 50/3.4.b, effective January 1, 2020, the Medical Patient Rights Act was amended by requiring information about rights with regard to pregnancy and childbirth to be posted on this website.
In general, regarding pregnancy and childbirth, every woman has the right to:
- receive healthcare before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth
- receive care for her and her infant that is consistent with generally accepted medical standards
- choose a certified nurse midwife or physician as her maternity care professional
- leave her maternity care professional and select another if she becomes dissatisfied with her care
- receive information about the names of those health care professionals involved in her care
- privacy and confidentiality of records
- receive information concerning her condition and proposed treatment
- accept or refuse any treatment
- be informed if her caregivers with to enroll her or her infant in a research study
- access her medical records
- receive information in a language in which she can communicate
- receive emotional and physical support during labor and birth
- freedom of movement during labor and to give birth in the position of her choice
- contact with her newborn
- receive information about breastfeeding
- decide collaboratively with caregivers when she and her baby will leave the birth site for home
- be always treated with respect before, during, and after pregnancy by her health care professionals
- examine and receive a reasonable explanation of her total bill for services
Department of Human Rights: Pregnancy Rights: A Non-Regulatory Guidance on Illinois Protections Against Discrimination Based on Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Related Conditions, Including Reproductive Decision-Making
