1. The woman, her baby and family/whānau (as defined by the woman) are at the centre of all processes and discussions.
2. The woman has the right to receive full, accurate, unbiased information about her options and the likely outcomes of her decisions. The woman has a right to make informed decisions on all aspects of her care, including the right to decline care, and to decline referral for specialist consultation or transfer of clinical responsibility.
3. Practitioners are responsible for their clinical decisions and actions, and for acting within their competency and scope of practice.
4. Communication between all practitioners involved with the woman will include her, and will be open, clear, timely and appropriately documented.
5. Transfer of clinical responsibility is a negotiated three-way process involving the woman, her Lead Maternity Carer and the practitioner to whom clinical responsibility is to be transferred (4).
4 – Ministry of Health (2012) Guidelines for Consultation with Obstetric and Related Medical Services (Referral Guidelines). https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/referral-glines-jan12.pdf