Advocacy and empowerment for self-advocacy are big pieces of what I do as a doula. And, as a childbirth educator, I spend a substantial amount of time in class helping families find ways to advocate for themselves. In this blog post, I’ll share just six quick strategies I often recommend in situations requiring you to advocate for yourself with a medical care provider.
First, you can ask the provider to explain to you the BRAIN (or at least BRAN!) of what they’re recommending. (Check out this post for more info on BRAIN.)
Second, you can tell the provider you need a few minutes to speak privately with your support team before making a decision.
Third, you can say no. And if that doesn’t work, you can say no again, louder and with stronger eye contact.
And fourth, if a provider still is treating you without your consent, or refusing to answer your questions, you can tell the nurse (or birth attendant) who is charting to mark down your refusal of the treatment or the provider’s refusal to comply in your chart. This essentially means that you are asking the person who is taking notes on everything that is happening to write down exactly what is happening, meaning that there will be a record that may be used in litigation or in filing a police report later. This strategy underscores the gravity of the situation at hand, and it does so quite effectively. I’ve only been in a few situations where I’ve had to use this technique, but it’s pulled the process to a screeching halt each time. Sometimes a reset is all that is needed to help everyone in the room remember that the patient they are treating – you – has the right to informed consent.
Fifth, state your desire repeatedly. Repeating no “No…NO…I am saying NO” as I mentioned above is a good example. Other examples include, “I do not consent…I still do not consent…I am still not consenting,” or “I want a second opinion…as I said, I want a second opinion…yes, I hear you, and I want a second opinion.”
Sixth, before even interacting with a medical professional in a situation that may require your advocacy, assemble your support team. This may include a loved one, a doula, and/or a social worker. These folks can help support you in deciding and pursuing your plan of action, and professionals (such as doulas and social workers) can help you communicate your desires clearly to your medical support team.
(If you’re one of those support people, check out this blog post – on how you can help someone else advocate for themselves!)
Abby the Sociologist Doula 