Pregnant patients' rights
Encyclopedia
Pregnant patient
s' rights refers to pregnant
women's rights regarding medical care during the pregnancy and childbirth
. It refers specifically to a patient's rights within a medical setting and should not be confused with pregnancy discrimination
.
The International Conference on Population and Development
(ICPD), convened in Cairo
by the United Nations
in September 1994, adopted a Programme of Action which set goals for all countries to reach by 2015. Among these goals, the Programme of Action urges countries to make available education and services for medical care during pregnancy and delivery
and during the postnatal
period. It also urged the availability of referral for further diagnosis and treatment for complications of pregnancy
and delivery.
, medical services during pregnancy and especially during labour and delivery
began to increase drastically in the 1930s. In the 1950s, advocacy group
s raised concern about medical services that were possibly unnecessary or even harmful to the mother, child, or both, and began to urge that pregnant women have the right to refuse such services.
In 1987, Angela Carder
, a pregnant cancer
patient, died along with her baby at George Washington University
Medical Center after a court-ordered Caesarian section. As a result of this case, beginning in the early 1990s, hospitals began to set policies stating that decisions regarding pregnant patients would be made by the patient herself, her family, and her doctors.
Patient
A patient is any recipient of healthcare services. The patient is most often ill or injured and in need of treatment by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, veterinarian, or other health care provider....
s' rights refers to pregnant
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
women's rights regarding medical care during the pregnancy and childbirth
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
. It refers specifically to a patient's rights within a medical setting and should not be confused with pregnancy discrimination
Pregnancy discrimination
Pregnancy discrimination occurs when expectant women are fired, not hired, or otherwise discriminated against due to their pregnancy or intention to become pregnant...
.
The International Conference on Population and Development
International Conference on Population and Development
The United Nations coordinated an International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt from 5–13 September 1994. Its resulting Program of Action is the steering document for the United Nations Population Fund ....
(ICPD), convened in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in September 1994, adopted a Programme of Action which set goals for all countries to reach by 2015. Among these goals, the Programme of Action urges countries to make available education and services for medical care during pregnancy and delivery
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
and during the postnatal
Postnatal
Postnatal is the period beginning immediately after the birth of a child and extending for about six weeks. Another term would be postpartum period, as it refers to the mother...
period. It also urged the availability of referral for further diagnosis and treatment for complications of pregnancy
Complications of pregnancy
Complications of pregnancy are the symptoms and problems that are associated with pregnancy. There are both routine problems and serious, even potentially fatal problems. The routine problems are normal complications, and pose no significant danger to either the woman or the fetus...
and delivery.
United States
In the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, medical services during pregnancy and especially during labour and delivery
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
began to increase drastically in the 1930s. In the 1950s, advocacy group
Advocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
s raised concern about medical services that were possibly unnecessary or even harmful to the mother, child, or both, and began to urge that pregnant women have the right to refuse such services.
In 1987, Angela Carder
Angela Carder
In re A.C. was a 1987 D.C. Circuit reproductive rights case. It was the first appellate court decision to "take a stand against" forced caesarean sections. Angela Carder was forced to undergo a life-threatening Caesarean section in an unsuccessful attempt to save the life of her fetus...
, a pregnant cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
patient, died along with her baby at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
Medical Center after a court-ordered Caesarian section. As a result of this case, beginning in the early 1990s, hospitals began to set policies stating that decisions regarding pregnant patients would be made by the patient herself, her family, and her doctors.