Rights and pregnancy
From the start of your pregnancy, rights are there to protect you. Right are the rules of society.
Knowing your rights can help you identify your needs in order to discuss them with your doctor, midwife. or nurse practitioner.
Before going any further, in Quebec, you have the right to decide to continue or interrupt your pregnancy.
What is your situation?
Rights protect you
Pregnancy involves a lot of big decisions. Some of these decisions are protected by rights such as the place of birth, and to be accompanied by a person of your choosing.
These rights exist to ensure that:
- you have all the information you need to make informed decisions;
- your decisions are respected;
- you protected from any pressure to give free consent;
- you receive adequate care on a scientific, human and social basis.
Discussing your needs with your caregivers can improve your experience before, during and after the birth of your child. Do not hesitate to talk about them from the start of your prenatal follow-up.
Right to a pregnancy
free from violence
Violence can come from different people and can take different forms, such as:
- Being the target of disrespectful, humiliating or guilt-inducing words or behaviour;
- Being hit or injured;
- Being pressured to end or continue a pregnancy;
- Receiving care that you did not accept.
Discrimination
is not allowed
Discrimination means treating a person or group differently from others.
You have the right to be treated with the same respect and to receive the same care and services as everyone else, regardless of your personal characteristics such as your sex, your origin, your age, your skin colour, your religion, your language, your weight or your gender identity.
Rights also prohibit discrimination against pregnant people at work.