A

Abortion

Termination of a pregnancy resulting from the pregnant person’s decision.

Agreement

A solution to a conflict that satisfies everyone involved.

Autopsy

Examination of the body to find the causes of death or, in the case of a fetus, the reasons why its development stopped.


B

Benefit

Amount of money received for a specific purpose (e.g., child benefit, parental insurance, etc.), allowance.

Birth centre

Establishment where midwives provide pregnancy monitoring and assist births.


C

C-section (Caesarean section)

Commonly abbreviated as C-section, medical technique in which a baby is delivered through an incision in the pregnant person’s belly.

Cervix

Lower part of the uterus which is connected to the vagina. It closes during pregnancy and opens (dilates) during childbirth to let the baby out.

Cohabitation

Staying together in the same place at the same time; in the same hospital room.

Compensation

Money received to repair harm or compensate for negative consequences. Also know as “lumpsum”.

Competent

Having skills and knowledge that allow a person to take action, use judgment, and make decisions in a given situation.

Complications

Unforeseen events or health problems that cause treatment, recovery or the overall medical situation to become more complex or difficult.

Consent to adoption

Decision and agreement to have one’s child entrusted to another family.

Contract

Agreement between people that sets out obligations and requirements.

Court

Place where justice is administered.

Curettage

Procedure consisting of cleaning the uterus using an instrument.


D

Discharge

Permission to leave a healthcare facility, approved and signed by a doctor.

Disciplinary council

Committee responsible for receiving complaints filed with a professional order and assessing if it warrants disciplinary action.

Discrimination

Action of treating a person differently or unfairly because of a personal characteristic such as skin colour, religion, gender or disability.

Doctor

Health professional who evaluates and treats health problems. Pregnancy and childbirth may be managed by an obstetrician or family physician who is trained to do so.

Domestic violence

Violence experienced in the context of an intimate and emotional relationship between two people. Domestic violence can continue to occur after the couple separates.

Doula

Person who has received training to provide non-medical support during pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy or bereavement.


E

Epidural

Medical intervention used to control pain by injecting medication into the lower back during a vaginal delivery or c-section.

Episiotomy

A cut at the bottom of the vagina that is made when it is necessary to speed up the delivery of the baby.

Examination

Observation of the body to assess a person’s health status.


F

Fault

Action that is in violation of the law, offence.

Fetal monitoring

Technique used to record the contractions of the mother’s uterus and the fetus’s heartbeat.

Fetus

Developmental stage of a human being between the 10th week of pregnancy and birth.

Fine

Amount of money to be paid to the State as a punishment for breaking a rule.

Forceps

Grasping instruments used to hold the baby’s head to help its exit during childbirth, in cases where the baby’s exit must be accelerated or assisted.

Free consent

Explicit agreement given by one person to another about an action, without feeling pressured, forced or afraid. 

Funeral options

Choice of how to dispose of the body of a deceased person.


G

Gender identity

Gender to which a person feels they belong. Gender corresponds to the internal and individual feeling of being female, male, neither both or otherwise.


H

Harassment

Repeating acts of verbal, physical or psychological violence against a person.


I

Informed decision

A decision is informed if the person understands the situation and has received accurate, complete and clear information about the possible choices.

Intended parent

The person or couple who decide to have a baby and make plans to do so, even though they can’t carry it themselves.

IV

Medical technique in which a fluid is injected through a vein to hydrate or administer medication.


M

Doctor

Health professional who evaluates and treats health problems. Pregnancy and childbirth may be managed by an obstetrician or family physician who is trained to do so.

Midwife

Health professional trained to provide all necessary care and services during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, whether at home, a birth centre or a hospital.

Miscarriage

Spontaneous termination of a pregnancy.


N

Notary

Professional who advises on laws and rights and draws up legal documents such as contracts and wills.

Notice of default

Formal notice or official document which explains to a person or an organization what you are accusing them of and what they can do to resolve the situation to avoid legal action.


O

Obstetric and gynecological violence

Disrespectful attitude or inappropriate gesture or action taken without the person’s consent during an intimate examination, pregnancy monitoring, childbirth or postpartum.

Originating application

Document presenting the facts and leading to legal proceedings and its desired results.


P

Parental project

When a person or couple decides to have a baby and makes plans to do so, even though they cannot carry it themselves.

Partner

Person close to the pregnant person and who is directly involved in the pregnancy because they are the spouse or a sexual or intimate partner.

Perineum

Set of muscles located between the pubis and anus and which support the bladder, vagina, and rectum.

Physical and psychological integrity

State of a person who has all of their body parts and has not suffered any significant damage to their physical, psychological or emotional health.

Physical therapy

Health science that aims to recover physical abilities lost due to injury, illness, pregnancy or childbirth.

Placenta

A temporary organ that forms in the uterus during pregnancy to provide nourishment and oxygen to the fetus. The placenta detaches from the uterus and is expelled after the baby is born.

Preeclampsia

Abnormal increase in blood pressure that causes the pregnant person’s organs to malfunction and can harm the unborn baby.

Professional order

Organization responsible for protecting the public by monitoring the quality of certain professional services and their compliance with established rules.

Public healthcare system

All healthcare establishments that are funded by the Quebec government: hospitals, CLSCs, birth centres, etc.

Pursuit

A legal procedure that consists of summoning a person before a court to obtain recognition of the infringement of a right and compensation for damages suffered.


R

Reprimand

Censure, reproach.

Retaliation

Reprisals or negative consequences suffered by someone who defended their rights.

Rights

Rules that explain what is mandatory, permitted, and prohibited in a society.


S

Salaried employee

Person whose main work income is a salary paid by an employer (company or enterprise).

Skin-to-skin

Placing a naked baby directly on the skin of the mother’s, father’s, other parent’s, or significant other’s chest.

Specialized nurse practitioner in primary care

Health care professional who can provide advanced care, including pregnancy follow up.

 

Surrogacy

When a person agrees to carry a baby for another person or couple who cannot have a child.


T

Termination of pregnancy

Pregnancy which ends with an outcome other than birth, including miscarriage or abortion.

Transvaginal ultrasound

Ultrasound performed by inserting a special probe into the vagina.

Trial

The final stage of a legal proceeding in which a judge hears the arguments of those involved and decides based on the law and the facts presented.

Tribunal administratif du travail

Tribunal where justice is administered over labour-related disputes.

Trustee

Person responsible for receiving and processing complaints filed with a professional order.


U

Ultrasound

Technique used to capture real-time images of the inside of the body through the skin.

Union

Association of persons who defend their professional rights and interests.


V

Ventouse

Suction instrument used on the baby’s head to help its exit during childbirth, in cases where the baby’s exit must be accelerated or assisted.

Violence

Action or behaviour that uses physical or psychological force to control or harm a person.

Virtual tour

Visiting a place remotely, using photos or videos that are viewed on a computer or mobile electronic device.


W

Witness

Person who saw or heard something.