If you don't know your rights, you don't have any.

Pregnancy is a challenging time with many decisions to navigate. Unfortunately, data indicates that numerous non-medical considerations drive provider recommendations, resulting in widespread overuse of invasive interventions that can have negative affects on mother and baby. In this context, it can be difficult for parents to understand whether the care they are receiving is actually medically necessary or motivated by something unrelated -- like provider preference, hospital policy or fear of liability. In addition, studies show many women feel they had no say in the procedures performed on them in labor, and believed that their physician was entitled to make the final decisions in their care.

Whether or not you like your care provider, it is important to understand what your legal rights are. Being an informed consumer increases the chances that your rights will be observed during delivery, which in turn increases the chances that you will have a positive experience and avoid medically unnecessary care that increases your risk for complications.


THE MIDWEST'S FIRST & ONLY CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION CLASS

dedicated exclusively to your rights as a consumer

taught by the architect of the landmark Turbin v. Abbassi lawsuit


PRIVATE EDUCATION: $250 for up to 3 hours of instruction.  Fee due in full up front to hold the date.  During COVID, remote options like Zoom are available.   Please contact me to arrange for a date and time!

GROUP CLASSES: $75-$85/couple.  

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

  • being a more educated consumer
  • more confidence in interacting with your care providers
  • improved ability to recognize and redress any violations you may experience

Are you a doula that routinely witnesses abusive obstetric practices, or a childbirth educator looking to elevate your understanding of patients' rights?  Introducing:

Beyond the Basics: Birth Rights for Perinatal Professionals

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

  • a more nuanced understanding of the intricacies of the law
  • improved ability to counsel your students or clients
  • improved understanding of options for redress

Prices will vary and content will differ a bit from the material for parents.  

Eau Claire doula Diana Snyder

Diana Snyder, doula, lawyer, patient advocate

As a lawyer specializing in women’s legal rights in maternity care, I am pleased to offer one-on-one education sessions to interested women and families, as well as group classes for parents and professionals, to understand the law on women's rights in birth and what you can do to ensure these rights are observed, no matter who you are. We will dive into the intricacies of informed consent and the right to refuse unwanted medical intervention, common violations of patients' rights in maternity care and factors driving these practices, strategies for improved patient-provider communication, avenues for parents to redress violations and threatened violations of birth rights, and more.