Maternal Patient Rights of Women
(Pregnancy, Childbirth and Breastfeeding)
As a patient at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital, you are entitled to certain rights. In general, regarding pregnancy and childbirth, every woman has the right to:
- Receive healthcare before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth
- Receive care for her and her infant that is consistent with generally accepted medical standards
- Choose a certified nurse midwife or physician as her maternity care professional
- Leave her maternity care professional and select another if she becomes dissatisfied with her care
- Receive information about the names of those health care professionals involved in her care
- Privacy and confidentiality of records
- Receive information concerning her condition and proposed treatment
- Accept or refuse any treatment
- Be informed if her caregivers wish to enroll her or her infant in a research study
- Access her medical records
- Receive information in a language in which she can communicate
- Receive emotional and physical support during labor and birth
- Freedom of movement during labor and to give birth in the position of her choice
- Contact with her newborn
- Receive information about breastfeeding
- Decide collaboratively with caregivers when she and her baby will leave the birth site for home
- Be always treated with respect before, during, and after pregnancy by her health care professionals
Examine and receive a reasonable explanation of her total bill for services
Frequently asked questions
To File a Complaint
Patients and/or their representative may file a complaint with the organizations listed below.
The Joint Commission
Office of Quality and Patient Safety
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Fax
630-792-5636
Online
Visit and download the Online Submission Form, Report a Safety Event about a Health Care Organization
Include in all correspondences, the health care organization’s name, street address, city and state.
Illinois Department of Public Health
Office of Health Care Regulation
Central Complaint Registry
Phone
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Central Complaint Registry Hotline, 800-252-4343
TTY for the Hearing Impaired Only, 800-547-0466
Online
Visit the OHCR Portal and selecting File a Complaint
Download the Health Care Facility Complaint Form
Mail form to:
Illinois Department of Public Health
Office of Health Care Regulation
Central Complaint Registry
525 W. Jefferson Street, Ground Floor
Springfield, IL 62761-0001
Fax
Download the Health Care Facility Complaint Form
Fax form to 217-524-8885
Download the Health Care Facilities Complaint Form
E-Mail form to DPH.CCR@illinois.gov
Illinois Department of Human Rights
100 W. Randolph Street, 10th Floor
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone
312-814-6200
TTY 866-740-3953
The Human Rights Authority
Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Intake Unit)
P.O. Box 7009 Hines
IL 60141-7009
Phone
866-274-8074
Fax 708-338-7505
TTY 866-333-3362
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue
SW Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone
800-368-1019
TDD 800-537-7697
Online
Visit the Complaint Portal Assistant