IDI Code of Ethics for Birth and Postpartum Doulas
The International Doula Institute (IDI) emphasizes the core values of respectability, ethical conduct, and evidence-based care. To maintain certification and standing within IDI, our code of ethics for birth and postpartum doulas must be upheld by each doula.
Code of Conduct
Integrity: Consistently display professionalism in business operations, client interactions, colleague relationships, and engagements within the healthcare community.
Respectability: Maintain a respectable demeanor in all interactions, ensuring clear communication and upholding mutual respect.
Proficiency: Ensure continuous learning about pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum processes, prioritizing evidence-based knowledge. This includes understanding typical newborn adjustment and infant development, supported by regular continuing education and evidence-based resources.
Responsibilities to People You Serve
Communication: Transparently convey the role, scope of practice, support offered, associated costs, and returned cost policies.
Commitment: Uphold service agreements and contracts, ensuring timely return of costs if supports standards are not met according to service agreements.
Continuity of Care: Provide consistent care and be forthright about any potential disruptions, such as scheduled absences, ensuring families can make informed decisions.
Reliability: Be punctual and dependable, keeping client appointments and commitments.
The People You Serve First: Place the people you serve’s needs and desires above all, advocating for their interests and amplifying their voice.
Empowerment: Encourage the people you serve to make informed choices, fostering self-determination and self-advocacy.
Scope Adherence: Serve strictly within a non-medical, non-clinical scope, and avoid attending unassisted births without a qualified provider.
Responsibilities to Fellow Doulas
Professional Courtesy: Engage with fellow doulas in a spirit of respect and cooperation, resolving any professional disagreements constructively.
Collaborative Respect: When serving a person in collaboration with another doula, always honor the primary doula’s established agreements with the person.
Responsibilities to Healthcare Providers
Collaboration: Appreciate the roles and responsibilities of healthcare providers, fostering collaborative and respectful relationships.
Responsibilities to Healthcare Payers
Compliance: Comply with health insurance and Medicaid standards, ensuring transparent and accurate billing.
Accessibility: Prioritize service accessibility for all, including the underserved, and offer non-discriminatory care.
Ethical Billing: Ensure billing practices are transparent, ethical, and promptly address any discrepancies.
Responsibilities to Community
Representation: Consistently uphold respectability, understanding that each doula represents the broader community.
Integrity in Action: Demonstrate honesty and ethical behavior, striving to positively influence perceptions of doulas within birth work.
Community Engagement: Endeavor to offer community service when feasible, without sacrificing personal or familial well-being.
Promotion of Wellbeing: Champion community policies and practices that foster the health and wellbeing of birthing individuals and babies.
By adhering to this comprehensive and inclusive Code of Ethics, IDI doulas commit to the highest standards of respectable conduct, inclusivity, and care. This commitment ensures trust, respect, and excellence in service delivery, contributing to the overall advancement and integrity of the doula field. This code seeks to create a positive and supportive environment for all, fostering equality, respect, and dignity in every interaction within the communities we serve.
Short Version of IDI Code of Ethics For Birth and Postpartum Doulas
Main Values:
- Respectability: Act in a proper and respectable manner.
- Ethical Conduct: Do what is right and fair.
- Knowledgeable Care: Keep learning to provide the best support based on proven information.
For Doulas:
- Be Honest and Respectable: Act rightly in your work, with clients, other doulas, and healthcare workers.
- Stay Informed: Keep learning about pregnancy, birth, and caring for babies.
For Clients:
- Clear Communication: Clearly explain what you do, associated costs, and your cost return policies.
- Reliable and Committed: Be on time and provide agreed services or return costs.
- Prioritize People You Serve: Put people you serve’s needs first and help them speak up for what they want.
- Encourage The People You Serve: Help the people you serve make informed choices for themselves.
- Serve Within Limits: Only do non-medical tasks and don’t attend births without a qualified provider.
With Colleagues:
- Be Respectful: Treat other doulas kindly and serve without disagreements positively.
- Honor Agreements: Respect agreements made by the main doula when serving together.
For Healthcare Providers:
- Work Together: Understand and respect the roles of healthcare providers and work well with them.
With Payers:
- Follow Rules: Stick to insurance and Medicaid rules and bill correctly and fairly.
- Be Accessible: Offer services to everyone fairly, including those who usually don’t have access to such services.
In the Community:
- Represent Well: Act respectably, as your actions reflect on all doulas.
- Be Ethical and Engage: Act rightly, try to change perceptions of doulas positively, and give back to the community when possible.
- Promote Health: Support community practices that help the health and well-being of pregnant individuals and babies.
By following these simple rules, doulas promise to act respectably, inclusively, and to provide high-standard care. This helps in building trust, respect, and quality in service, and in enhancing the image and practice of the doula field in a positive and supportive way. These rules aim to encourage fairness, respect, and dignity in all interactions in the communities served.