Doula Work and Liability Insurance

addison0316 · 01-19-2006, 11:25 PM

I have so many questions swirling in my head and I hope that some of the experienced doulas can help me.

Do you work as a full time doula?

Do you have any other jobs other than doula related?

I am asking these first two mainly because I am wondering if I will be able to maintain a steady, reliable income source if I become a doula. I realize that it would take me a while to build a client base, but I still need to maintain a certain income level during the initial start up of a career change.

Is there any liability insurance that you carry in case you have a problem with a client?

I know that doulas aren't providing medical care, but what happens if a client has a bad outcome and blames the doula or tries to sue the doula? In this day and age, it seems there are so many sue-happy people.

I really want to pursue a career that I will LOVE, but I also want to consider all the possibilities, good and bad, before I decide to pursure it further. Thanks for your help in advance.

Kim Trower · 01-20-2006, 01:44 AM

Do you work as a full time doula?
Yep but it's my work and my dh's (massage therapist) that get the bills paid. It certainly isn't a hobby, or fun money, every dime goes somewhere and its still a stretch. But we both absolutely love our work and are passionate about it so the financial side of it doesn't stress us. We know that what we give out will come back in more ways than one. If I didn't have kids I could take on way more, but there is only so far one person can stretch, kwim.

Do you have any other jobs other than doula related?
Nope. I tried it for a while when we were really struggling. I just wanted a no brainer job, so I worked at a deli in a time share hotel place. The owner was very cool, I told him my situation up front and said that my doula work was priority and I would try to give as much advance notice as possible to not leave them hanging. This worked out okay for 6 months but I wasn't seeing my family and so we decided to just struggle through it again relying on the fact that our giving to others would be reciprocated some how and we would make it through...and we did.

Is there any liability insurance that you carry in case you have a problem with a client?
NOpe, I don't do anything that I could be liable for. Nothing clinical, I don't make decisions for the client. So they can sue all they want but it would be a waste of their energy, you can't win a lawsuit just because you are unhappy with an outcome. There is no blame to place if the doula practices within her scope and allows the mother to make her decisions.

Jackie7183 · 01-20-2006, 01:11 PM

I am not yet working as a doula (conflicts with school, but I graduate in May), but when I am, I will also be working as a sign language interpreter as well, it is very flexible.

I carry professional liability insurance, it is not expensive, about $45 per month, it covers my interpreting as well as my doula work.

Need2read · 01-20-2006, 06:52 PM

Do you work as a full time doula?
As of right now I am still working through my certification. I personally think this is the hardest part, feeling so unsure, not having a stable client base, trying to provide for yourself & your family while still pursuing your dreams is hard. I recently got a second job, am in school full time, and am a doula.

Do you have any other jobs other than doula related?
I am working as a family home daycare assistant (

I work with all the babies!

) I am also working for Target Corp. (and I will be quitting soon...) The reason I have another a job outside of being a Doula is because I am also in college and don't want to take on too many clients while still in school.

Is there any liability insurance that you carry in case you have a problem with a client?

You do not have to have liability insurance. I am certifying through DONA and it is not a requirement for postpartum or birth doulas. I will also be certifying through a local group called PALS (births doulas) their sister organization is NAPS (postpartum doulas). I have actually chosen not to certify through NAPS because they require their doulas to carry liability insurance and I do not feel that I need to.

tlcdoula · 01-20-2006, 07:32 PM

Do you work as a full time doula?

No, I do not do doula work full time. I work for a hospital doula program and am on call anywhere from 15 t0 20 days per month. I used to take private clients as well, but since I am a big weenie about driving in the snow I haven't taken any clients this winter.

Do you have any other jobs other than doula related?

Yes, I actually have several jobs. My main job is running a licensed home daycare and this is where I make my money. I also teach childbirth education classes at another hospital (not the same one I am a doula at), and I have a hypnotherapy office that I just opened up in September of last year.

I am asking these first two mainly because I am wondering if I will be able to maintain a steady, reliable income source if I become a doula.

I think it truly depends on how much money you are looking at making. Could I ever make as much money as a doula as I do running my licensed home daycare? Absolutely not, NEVER!!! Since we all have our own definitions of what we would consider reliable income I think this question really varies with the person. For example, I know a doula who takes on four clients a month - is that reliable income? To her it is, but to me that is a drop in the bucket compared to what I am used to making and on those rare months she doesn't get four clients - well that would never sit well with me, and saying you want

Is there any liability insurance that you carry in case you have a problem with a client?

Yes, I carry liability insurance.

tlcdoula · 01-20-2006, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Trower

NOpe, I don't do anything that I could be liable for. Nothing clinical, I don't make decisions for the client. So they can sue all they want but it would be a waste of their energy, you can't win a lawsuit just because you are unhappy with an outcome. There is no blame to place if the doula practices within her scope and allows the mother to make her decisions.

Do you use your birth ball or any sort of "tools" when working with a client? If so, then you could be liable. At least that is what I was told when I started this business. If you use your birth ball and they fall off - even if at the hospital you can be liable. If you are at the hospital and even if they are using the hospital birth ball and you are the one that they think is supposed to be supporting them and they fall off - again you could be liable. It doesn't take doing something wrong to be liable!

Kim Trower · 01-20-2006, 08:04 PM

I don't agree with that at all...so if mom is standing and she falls over it's my fault and I could be liable. Mom chooses to sit on the ball and is therefore responsible for her self and her choices. I just don't see any need for doula's to carry insurance, but realize it's a personal choice and one of comfort to many.

susan1 · 01-20-2006, 09:16 PM

Good questions. I would have like to have ask these questions before I jump in with both feet...now I only have one foot in.

Do you work as a full time doula?
No, I just started. Also doulas are not well know in my area. So I have not been able to find many clients.

Do you have any other jobs other than doula related? No

I am asking these first two mainly because I am wondering if I will be able to maintain a steady, reliable income source if I become a doula. I realize that it would take me a while to build a client base, but I still need to maintain a certain income level during the initial start up of a career change. I do not think this is a kind of job that one kind say I get x amount of money every month.

Is there any liability insurance that you carry in case you have a problem with a client? No.

Susan

DL · 01-20-2006, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Trower

I don't agree with that at all...so if mom is standing and she falls over it's my fault and I could be liable. Mom chooses to sit on the ball and is therefore responsible for her self and her choices. I just don't see any need for doula's to carry insurance, but realize it's a personal choice and one of comfort to many.

Kim, what you are saying is absolutely LOGICAL. IMO, this should be 'the way the world turns' if everything were ideal. Unfortunately, this is where I part with you and side with Michelle's view, though. Sue-happy people are NOT LOGICAL.

No, it's not your fault; but, just because something is not your fault doesn't mean that someone won't blame you for it never-the-less.

In my labor doula training, we were cautioned about this. For some doulas, liability insurance can be a logical attempt to protect against illogical accusations.

Because of our litigious society, I don't have liability insurance yet, but do plan on getting it. Even many CBEs carry liability insurance so that their students cannot come back on them and say, "we did ___ because you taught about it, and ___ is what happened. We're suing." All the logic in the world cannot keep them from thinking irrationally.

No, it's not right nor logical, but it's reality in this day and age. It's a sad thing and a sorry state that we're in. You're right, though; insurance is definitely a personal choice and should remain just that...a choice that is personal. Good discussion, I think!

That's just my

....back to the regularly scheduled program!

DL · 01-20-2006, 09:32 PM

Do you work as a full time doula?

No; I'm mostly a SAHM, homeschooling mom. That takes up most of my time. My dh is our main bread-winner; whatever I make just supplements what he is already bringing in. What I make as a doula would not keep us at the same standard of living as my dh provides through his job. Being a doula keeps me busy in spurts, but there are times (sometimes weeks or months) when I'm not taking/seeing clients.

Do you have any other jobs other than doula related?

Not for pay. I currently volunteer about once a week at a midwifery as a very part-time receptionist (ocassionally getting paid for subbing for one of the full-time receptionists if they're ill/away, etc.). I do have some good medical office skills from this that I could use to get a paying job if I desired. In the future, I might certify through Lamaze as a CBE (that would be for pay, of course!).

Is there any liability insurance that you carry in case you have a problem with a client?

Not yet, but seriously considering getting some soon. (see my above post)

tlcdoula · 01-22-2006, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kim Trower

I don't agree with that at all...so if mom is standing and she falls over it's my fault and I could be liable. Mom chooses to sit on the ball and is therefore responsible for her self and her choices. I just don't see any need for doula's to carry insurance, but realize it's a personal choice and one of comfort to many.

I didn't say I agree with it - all I said was that was what I was told. Reality is that in this day and age people can try to sue for any reason. In fact, I am going to e-mail you something off list to explain more

heathenmamaof5 · 01-22-2006, 04:33 PM

Could you e-mail that info to me too???? My Hubby insists that I get insurance.

Thank you so much!

Jill

MothertheMother · 01-22-2006, 05:31 PM

I have a good friend who works for an insurance company. What she tells me is the insurance is not in case someone wins a law suit against you so much as it is in case they bring one against you. It is to pay lawyer fees and court costs etc so that you can defend yourself well. Someone is much more likely to win a suit against you if they have a fancy pants lawyer and you don't.

I plan on getting insurance as well. I don't think it is expensive either. Of course as a new doula you have to make money to spend money and you have to spend money to make money so every little bit seems to add up!!!!

addison0316 · 01-25-2006, 06:45 PM

Thanks ladies for answering some of my questions. I really appreciate it. I'm sorry that I didn't get back here sooner, but I've been ill all week. I really think I'd love being a doula and I'm glad that you are all here to answer my questions.

02-01-2006, 04:08 PM

I am VERY new at all this. I am just starting my required readings and I haven't ordered my kit yet because I haven't decided which one I am going to do. On the insurance thing - how much does something like that cost? $100's or $1000's?

Thanks!