Do I have the right at a University hospital to refuse having student doctors in the room while i give birth?

Question

I have Tricare insurance so i have no say in where i give birth...it was up to me, it would be at a birthing center. With my first delivery at a naval hopsital, there were so many student doctors in the room and i hated it. We are now at a new base and I have to go to a University hospital so I'm sure it will be the same...can I tell them no? Also, there were a few things that had to be done the first time that the doctor let the student do while explaining such as internal monitor and all that. It made me extremely uncomfortable and I would just like to know if i have a right to say that I want only the doctor to do this sort of thing.

Answer 1

You can refuse anything you aren't comfortable with.  Even if they tell you something is "hospital policy" you can refuse it, patient consent (or refusal) always trumps policy.

Answer 2

First and foremost -- YES, you have the right to deny students being in the room.

Second, when it comes to your delivery, I would highly encourage you to have a "doula." (pronounced doola)  Doula is a Greek word that signifies a woman who is an advocate for the mother during childbirth.  A doula can cost anywhere from 300 to 700 dollars, but they are familiar with the local hospitals, the birthing process, the drugs and procedures involved, and they are YOUR ADVOCATE during the delivery.  This way there is someone who knows the system who is on YOUR SIDE.  And yes -- a doula would have no problem being the confrontational one in insisting that you do not have students in the room.

* A doula is different than a midwife. (midwifes can deliver the baby)

Three -- on the birthing process, I just have to recommend that you watch the movie "The Business of Being Born."  My wife is due in August and our outlook on the birthing process was totally enlightened and transformed after seeing it.

Answer 3

yeah you can say no at any time...amd you can tell u doctor before you go to the hospital to deliver

Answer 4

Absoulutely!!! At any time if you feel uncomfortable you can say so. It's their job to make sure you have a COMFORTABLE stay land a safe stress-free delivery.