STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
All Doulas will provide the highest level of professional services and care, acting with integrity and propriety at all times.
Role of the Doula
The Doula will provide emotional, physical, and informational assistance to birthing people and their families surrounding the labor, birth and postpartum time. Doula does not diagnose, suggest treatment, or administer treatment to the client, and in such cases where the Doula does suggest treatment (homeopathy, herbs, aromatherapy, etc.), Doula will be sure to let client know that this practice is outside of the normal scope of the Doula and gain client’s express permission for any such treatment.
The Doula will provide information, referrals to other resources to clients, and make clear that Doula’s role is not one of clinical care provider or advisor.
Scope of Services
The Doula will state to each client (verbally or in writing) what services Doula offers. A written agreement is preferable in all cases. This agreement should include the following:
-dates of on-call status
-means and schedule of payments
-back-up arrangements
-clause describing termination reasons and refund policy
-services provided and not provided by the Doula
-signatures of both client and Doula
Communication
Open communication should be the standard, both in terms of understanding client’s expectations of the Doula and in terms of the Doula setting appropriate expectations for the service provided.
CODE OF ETHICS
Ethical Responsibility to Clients
Confidentiality
The Doula should respect the privacy of clients and hold in confidence all information learned during the term of the Doula-Client relationship, and ask explicit permission to discuss this information with the back-up doula or other professionals.
Reliability
The Doula will be reliable to client readily and without fail for the term of the agreement. Doula will provide back-up Doula services as needed, per the terms of the signed agreement.
Obligation to Serve
The Doula should assist each client seeking support either by providing services or making appropriate referrals.
Ethical Responsibility to Colleagues
Respect, Fairness, and Courtesy
The Doula should treat colleagues with respect, courtesy, fairness, and good faith.
Dealing with Colleagues’ Clients
The Doula has the responsibility to relate to the clients of colleagues with the same ethical and professional consideration as with Doula’s own clients.
Ethical Responsibility to Health Care Providers of the Client
Respect, Fairness, and Courtesy.
The Doula will treat client’s caregivers with respect, courtesy, fairness and good faith.
Recognition of Clinical Responsibility.
The Doula recognizes that responsibility for clinical management belongs to the Health Care Provider (midwife, physician, nurse, etc) and the client. The Doula does not interfere with clinical management beyond making suggestions to, or asking questions of, the Health Care Provider and client, based on Doula’s knowledge of the client’s birth plan and preferences.