Your rights and choices during miscarriage care

Miscarriage and pregnancy loss can affect everyone differently. Whatever you experience, you have the right to safe, respectful care and clear information about your options. Healthcare professionals should listen to what matters to you, answer your questions and support you to make informed decisions about your care.

You may receive care through:

• a doctor
• an early pregnancy assessment service (EPAS)
• a hospital emergency department
• a maternity service
• an obstetrician or gynaecologist
• a community health service

The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (Opens in new tab) explains what you can expect when receiving healthcare in Australia (Opens in new tab), including miscarriage and pregnancy loss care.

You have the right to:

• receive healthcare that meets your needs
• receive safe, high-quality care
• be treated with dignity and respect
• be involved in making decisions about your care
• receive clear information
• have your privacy respected
• give feedback or make a complaint
• These rights apply to everyone receiving healthcare in Australia.

You have the right to receive clear information about what is happening and the care options available to you at every stage of your miscarriage or pregnancy loss care.

Your healthcare professional should explain the possible benefits, risks and costs of each option, including waiting or choosing not to have a test or treatment. You can ask questions and take the time you need to make a decision that feels right for you.

You might ask:

• What do my ultrasound or blood test results show?
• Do I need further tests to confirm what is happening?
• Has the miscarriage completed, or might I need further care?
• Which options are suitable for me, such as waiting, medicine or a procedure?
• What bleeding or pain might I have with each option, and what support is available?
• What could happen if I wait, and how much time do I have to decide?
• What happens if the option I choose does not work as expected?
• What follow-up care will I need, and who can I contact with concerns?

Informed consent means you understand what a test, treatment or procedure involves and choose to go ahead with it. This includes understanding its benefits and risks and what other options you have.

Your decision is yours. You should be able to make decisions without anyone pressuring or forcing you. 

Your healthcare professional should give you the information you need, answer your questions and support you to make your own decision. This includes explaining what could happen if you choose not to have the recommended care.

You can ask for information to be explained differently, ask for an interpreter or have someone you trust to support you. Having support does not change your right to make your own decisions.

You can work with your healthcare professional to make decisions about your miscarriage or pregnancy loss care. This is called shared decision-making.

Your healthcare professional can explain your options and the possible benefits and risks.

You can share your preferences, concerns and what matters to you.

You can use the Ask Share Know (Opens in new tab) tool to help you prepare for these conversations. This tool can help you think about what to ask, share what matters to you and understand your options.

Can I take time to make a decision?

You can ask for time to understand your options, ask more questions and think about what is right for you before making a decision. You can also ask to pause the conversation, have information explained differently or talk with someone you trust. You should be able to make decisions without anyone pressuring or forcing you.

You could ask:

• How much time do I have to decide?
• What could happen if I wait?
• Can we talk about this again before I decide?

If your care is urgent, your healthcare professional should explain why and how quickly a decision is needed. They should continue to explain your options clearly and provide support to help you make your own decision, even when time is limited.

Can I say no to a test or treatment?

You can choose not to have a test or treatment. You can say no, ask about other options or change your mind, even if you have already given consent. Your decision should be made freely and without pressure.

Your healthcare professional should support you to make a decision that is right for you. They should explain what each choice means for your health and whether there are other options.

Can I ask for a second opinion?

Yes, you can ask to speak with another healthcare professional (Opens in new tab) if you would like another opinion about your care. You can ask your healthcare professional how to arrange this.

If you need to decide soon, ask how much time you have to get another opinion and whether waiting could affect your health. You can also choose to have someone you trust to support you during these conversations.

Yes, you can ask to have someone you trust with you during discussions and appointments about your care.

This could be your partner, family member, friend, carer, advocate or another support person.

You can choose the support that feels helpful to you. Your support person or advocate could:

• listen and take notes
• help you ask questions or ask for a pause
• support you to communicate your questions, concerns and decisions
• help you understand the information and talk through your options

Having support does not mean giving up your role as the decision-maker. Your healthcare professional should continue to speak directly with you and support you to make your own decisions. Supported decision-making should keep you at the centre of your care.

You decide who is involved, how much they are involved and what information is shared with others. You can also ask to speak with your healthcare professional privately or change your mind about having someone present at any time.

If you would like support but do not have someone to bring, you can ask the healthcare service what advocacy or support services are available.

Yes, you can ask for a professional interpreter if you prefer to communicate in a language other than English. If you use Auslan, you can ask for an Auslan interpreter (Opens in new tab). Tell your healthcare professional what you need.

Where possible, you can also ask for a male or female interpreter. Professional interpreters must keep your information private.

Interpreters may be available in person, by phone or by video. You can also ask for written information in your preferred language.

Tell your healthcare provider if you need help communicating or getting information in a format that works for you. You can ask for information in formats such as Easy Read, another language, Auslan or large print.

Culturally safe care respects your culture, identity, beliefs, values and choices. It means receiving care without racism, discrimination or assumptions about who you are or what matters to you.

Your healthcare professional should listen to what matters to you, recognise their own biases and respect your right to make decisions about your care.

You can choose to share any cultural, spiritual or religious practices you would like respected during your care for miscarriage or pregnancy loss. You decide if you would like family, kin or community members involved.

Your healthcare professional should ask what support would be helpful rather than assume everyone has the same needs.

If you are an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person, you, your family and your community determine what culturally safe care means for you. Your healthcare professional and service should listen to you and provide care that is respectful and free from racism. You can ask if an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker, Health Practitioner or Liaison Officer is available to support you.

You are not responsible for making your care culturally safe. Healthcare professionals and services are responsible for addressing racism, challenging assumptions and providing respectful care.

Your healthcare professional should respect your identity, body, relationships and choices.

Your healthcare professional should not make assumptions about your gender, relationships, family or parenting roles. You can tell them the name, pronouns and words you would like them to use, including how you describe your body, pregnancy, miscarriage or pregnancy loss and family.

You decide who you consider to be your partner, family or support people and who you want involved in discussions and decisions about your care. Your healthcare professional should recognise the people important to you while continuing to support you to make your own decisions.

You can also ask for privacy when sharing information about your body, identity, relationships, donor arrangements or medical history.

The Genders, Bodies and Relationships Passport (Opens in new tab) may help you communicate about your language, privacy and healthcare preferences to services. 

If you have disability-related needs, you can ask your healthcare professional to make reasonable adjustments so you can access, understand and take part in your care.

This may include:

• information in a format that works for you, such as Easy Read, Auslan, large print or audio
• communication aids or more time to understand information and ask questions
• help to access the healthcare service or adjustments to examinations and procedures
• having a support person, carer, advocate or interpreter with you
• support to make decisions while remaining involved and in control of your care

Tell your healthcare professional what support works best for you. They should speak directly with you, respect your preferences and avoid making assumptions about what you can understand or decide.

You have the right to privacy when receiving miscarriage care.

Your healthcare professional should protect your personal and health information. They should only use or share it with your consent or when allowed by law.

You can ask:

• who can access your health information and why
• how they will use and share your information
• to speak with your healthcare professional in private
• who can be present during conversations, examinations or procedures
• for your information not to be discussed in front of family, partners or support people without your permission

Your questions, concerns and experiences deserve to be taken seriously.

You do not need to find the right words or manage a difficult conversation on your own.

Getting support during your care

If you feel comfortable doing so, you can tell your healthcare professional what is concerning you. You can also ask to speak with the nurse or midwife in charge, or another senior member of the healthcare team. Someone you trust can help you raise your concerns.

You could say:

• I'm still worried and would like someone else to review my care.
• I don't feel my concerns have been addressed.
• I would like support to explain what I need.

You have the right to raise concerns or make a complaint about your healthcare without it affecting how you are treated. You can speak with your healthcare professional or ask to contact the service's complaints manager or consumer representative. Read more about making a healthcare complaint, including where to get help if you are not happy with the response.

If you need more support after a miscarriage, our miscarriage support page has information about services and other ways to get help.

The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (Opens in new tab) is available in different formats including:

• Easy English
• other languages
• Auslan (Opens in new tab)
• Braille
• for people with cognitive impairment
• an LGBTQI+ version
• audio
• large print