Saying no, or saying "wait"
You can ask for time, for a second opinion, or for more information.
Unless the situation is a genuine emergency measured in minutes, you can ask questions before agreeing:
- "Is this an emergency right now, or do we have time to talk?"
- "What happens if we wait another hour?"
- "What are we going to try first?"
- "Is there anyone else I can speak with?"
Professional guidance states that pregnancy does not lessen the requirement to honor a refusal of recommended treatment, and discourages the use of duress, manipulation, coercion, physical force or threats.
And the other side of itSome situations genuinely are emergencies. A prolapsed cord, a placental abruption with heavy bleeding, or a suspected uterine rupture do not leave time for deliberation. Knowing the difference is why the question "is this an emergency right now" is the most useful sentence in this tool.
Where this comes from:
256. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Refusal of medically recommended treatment during pregnancy. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 664. Obstet Gynecol. 2016;127(6):e175-e182.
255. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Informed consent and shared decision making in obstetrics and gynecology. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 819. Obstet Gynecol. 2021;137(2):e34-e41.
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This page is educational. It supports the conversation with your own clinicians. It is not consent to any treatment, and it cannot assess you. If you are worried about a symptom now, see urgent warning signs.