patient rights

I was put on bed rest at 25 weeks by my HR OB for mild contractions and some effacging....however, I felt fine. My reg OB said I could keep working but my HR made me so scared that I put in my notice at work for leave. Long story short this past Sat I went to see my HR OB and he said no contractions effacing is looking better and I am not dialated at all! BUT he will still not sign for me to return to work. He said that "I am responsible for you until you are 34 weeks and you are on rest so go home". I go back to both my HR and reg OB in two weeks...if things are still good I WANT to return to work so I don't us all my FLMA time.

My questions are: Do I have any rights in demanding that he release me? Is there some kind of paper that I can sign that will relieve him of liability? Is there any chance that my reg OB can release me (I know that dr's have a hard time going against each other).

Please help....He is being so unreasonable...I know that bedrest is a neccessity in a lot of cases but I strongly feel this is not one.

 

That's a tough one. I'm sure that there is a way to get yourself released and all liability waived, but I have no idea how. You're only 26 weeks right now. He must be feeling that your bed rest is working and that is why there have been no more contractions or effacing. I totally understand his concerns - and I understand your's too, using up your FMLA time before the babies even arrive must be incredibly frustrating.

Can you ask for a referral to another HR OB for a second opinion? Can you talk to your regular OB about your concerns and see what he/she thinks?

I would hate to see you go back to work only to go into preterm labor and have very early babies. While it must be extremely frustrating going through this, it is nothing compared to having 26-weekers in the NICU, you know? Your HR OB specializes in high-risk pregnancies - and while doctors are not always right, he must have his reasons for wanting you to remain on bedrest. Have you asked him to explain why he feels you need to remain on bedrest and out of work?

Is there any way for you to do some work at home?

I'm sorry, I don't really know about the releasing information. I mean, I'm sure you could just stop seeing the HR OB and leave all care to your OB. But I'm not sure that is the best thing for you to do. Are you only seeing the HR OB because of the contractions and effacing or are there other issues?

It just sounds like maybe you need to really talk with the doctor(s) and find out what their concerns are and why they feel you need to remain out of work. I tend to like doctors that are overly cautious. I feel like they take better care of me. I'm sorry for all of the hassles you are going through right now. I hope you are able to figure something out. :hug:

 

Is any way that you can work from home ful time?
My OB told me that he wil ltake me off work if I will have any complications even minor.
I didn't but at 25 weeks I was so tired commute to work that I aske dhim to allow me to work form home ( my job has this option) so he gave me the letter.
now it is in th eprocess of aproval at work hope will get answer by the end of the this week and since next week will work from home full time
but believe me I feel so tired that I don't want to go to work ( minimum 1,5 hours each way)
last 2 times i feel fainted when I get to my bus stop and was sitting trying to help myself feel better.

 

Work does not have anything for me to do from home. I am a bank teller, sitting for 90% of the day. What is so frustrating is that he said you are under my care until 34 weeks, you make that and I will let you do anything you want. I am eating up all my FMLA time and I feel GREAT! I am going to wait the two more weeks til I see him again but at that time I want to be prepared if I do have any rights in insisting I can return to work.

 

Maybe the language needs to be changed. Your pregnancy and the birth of your children are two diffrent things. I am on medical leave right now and after I have my babies I will be on FMLA. Those are 2 totally diffrent things. Check into the lingo with your HR dept. You might have to get pperwork stating that. Good luck!

 

I dont think it necessarily matters that you feel great. Your doctor has some reason for keeping you home and I would be inclined to listen to him or possibly get a second opinion if you dont trust him. I would also look into your HR about this actually being medical leave.

 

QUOTE(oh-baby-baby @ Apr 13 2009, 09:57 AM) [snapback]1270598[/snapback]
Maybe the language needs to be changed. Your pregnancy and the birth of your children are two diffrent things. I am on medical leave right now and after I have my babies I will be on FMLA. Those are 2 totally diffrent things. Check into the lingo with your HR dept. You might have to get pperwork stating that. Good luck!



I'd say that to, If I go out prior to my babies coming (for medical reason) it will be FMLA, after the babies are born I am out on MML maternity medical leave which at my work is two different things I get 12 weeks a year of FMLA, and for MML I get 8 weeks for each baby so 16 weeks.

I'd call HR and find out what exactly your entitled to.

 

Totally agree with previous two posters.... And it depends on your states law. I live in CA, and with my first daughter I went off work at 35 weeks on disability (for medical reasons) which did NOT eat up my paid FMLA time for after my daughter was born. In fact, I was able to take a few weeks unpaid as well after the birth because CA allows for unpaid "bonding" time with a newborn. Please see your HR dept. Or call the state.

 

I think that if your DR is requesting that you rest. Like the comment before it must be for a good reason.

If you feel like your DR is not working towards the same goals as you medically then try to switch DR.

But DR usually know the sign of problems with a pregnancy. I had miscarriages before and maybe if I would of listen to the advice given to me I would still have mines.

But remember our bodies can trick us into thinking or believing that things are fine. There is nothing wrong with having or keeping a positive attitude. But remember you have your little ones to think about.

You do not want to put your body in an stressful situation when it can be avoided.

 

Maybe getting a second opinion wouldn't hurt?
I am sure he has a good reason for keeping you out of work though & no doubt it is better for your body to be resting, but I would say if you need to then explain to him your issues & tell him you are interested in a 2nd opinion?
Good luck!

 

I agree w/ all pp. Definitely check into the terminology used for your leave. Also, I can definitely understand your frustrations b/c I was put on bed rest at 27 wks and I was devastated! I felt totally FINE and didnt understand it at all. Basically the DR just wanted me to 'cook' the babies b/c DD was smaller than DS. No complications. Nothing! I tried to tell my DR that if I was home w/ two other toddlers all day, there was no 'resting'...and my job was willing to give me office type work, so I could be sitting down, which would have been WAY more rest than looking after two toddlers all day. . but Nooooo. . he didnt do it. I had to stay home.

 

I don't think you feeling fine is any indication that things are going well. I felt absolutely great and the same day went to a routine appt. and found out I was having contractions and was 2 cm dilated, talk about shocker!! That said, I am sure your HR OB has a good reason to want you to stay out of work. If you have had some mild contractions and effacing before, that means it might be likely to happen again or more easily. However, if you disagree I think you need to get a second opinion.

 

in most states (other than CA) when you're out on "medical leave" for a pregnancy you can't be fired however it CAN come out of your FMLA time...most doctors won't let you go back to work until your 6 week post partum checkup so your employer has to hold your job until you can be released...that being said my peri told me that he forces his multiple pregnancies to go on bedrest at 24 weeks as a matter of course...the OB and my endocrinologist (I'm diabetic) did NOT agree that it was necessary...and I also told him that for monetary reasons unless I was having complications I was going to stay off bedrest unless it was warranted....it wasn't and I worked until 35+3...the peri was very shocked that I carried that far without problems (I got pre-e and delivered at 36 weeks but it had nothing to do with working)...

see if your regular OB will release you - if you are feeling as good as you are perhaps you can work part time or a modified schedule that may best meet your needs....

 

I have an overly cautious doctor as well. I'm 24 weeks, and she would have pulled me from work by now just because between now and 32 weeks they don't want me to risk PTL. Even my perinatologist said he pretty much wants me to be a slug. It's tough with a 21 month old running around.

I don't know much about disability. I'm sure if that was an option you probably would have looked into it by now. My doctor tried to get me to take it with my last pregnancy, but my job didn't offer that as a benefit.

 

Unfortunaely, your doc is responsible for you and the babies. To release him of liablity you probably have to release him of your care and fine someone else.

I've been a nurse for a long time and litigation is a big issue. Doc's don't want to put themselves out on the line for a pt.

You have the right to go on FMLA leave for up to 6 months. For my disability, my peri and OB agreed to bedrest at 26 weeks. My insurance short term dis is good up to 12 weeks, then long term will kick in. I wasn't ready for the less pay so early on, but now the babies are in a really safe stage, I may have been in the NICU visiting instead of carring them safely. I am not happy to be a slug either, but after reading some of the heartbreaking NICU posts I am thankful to my DOCs

 

QUOTE(ptymom @ Apr 14 2009, 06:07 AM) [snapback]1271990[/snapback]
Unfortunaely, your doc is responsible for you and the babies. To release him of liablity you probably have to release him of your care and fine someone else.

I've been a nurse for a long time and litigation is a big issue. Doc's don't want to put themselves out on the line for a pt.

You have the right to go on FMLA leave for up to 6 months. For my disability, my peri and OB agreed to bedrest at 26 weeks. My insurance short term dis is good up to 12 weeks, then long term will kick in. I wasn't ready for the less pay so early on, but now the babies are in a really safe stage, I may have been in the NICU visiting instead of carring them safely. I am not happy to be a slug either, but after reading some of the heartbreaking NICU posts I am thankful to my DOCs


Hi, this is a tough one and I'm not really in your situation but I just wanted to drop in and wish you good luck with everything. I hope it all works out for you and the baby. I understand that giving up work too early can be really frustrating but I tend to err on the side of listening to my docs. I have a major guilt complex and history of self-flagellation. I personally would hate to have something bad happen when I went against (or around doctors orders) because I would never stop blaming myself or feeling guilty. I am also typically the person who says "I know my body", but honestly, with this pregnancy, I realize that I do not know anything. It is all so foreign and I am not in control of anything, really. I realize that as soon as I feel good and think I'm in good shape, I get a debilitating headache or the nausea kicks in or some strange pain (and I'm only in the beginning of my second trimester). I cant imagine how rapidly things change down the line. Either way, all the best to you.