[eastkygal]

I am beginning to offer labor support along with my childbirth education classes. I was part of a conversation not long ago where there was talk of legal fear and doulas. I had never heard from any doula I know personally that they were ever legally fearful. Is there anything to keep in mind in this regard? Do any of you carry insurance? Just wondering as this is the first time in many years of being a part of a birth community that I have heard this issue come up with labor support.

 

[AmieV]

I never worried about insurance and I thunk if you are strict about practicing in a support role only (ie not medical) there should be no reason to. But I do know it's available for about $100/year so if you are concerned it's not expensive.

 

[momto9kidlets]

I used to carry insurance when I was working with private clients (right now I am only working with hospital clients where I am a hospital employee). Anyhow, when I carried it the reason I did so was because no matter what you do or don't do, practice within your scope or not - if something goes wrong and the family is going to sue they will name every person in the room and although it is innocent until proven guilty it can still cost a good amount of money to prove you are innocent. I know of one doula personally that this happened to and it cost her a good amount of money - the case was dropped but still she had to hire an attorney.

 

[NOVADoulas]

I carry insurance. It's something like $109/year. I don't see ever needing it, but if I do I'm covered!

 

[momto9kidlets]

I agree - it doesn't cost much <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[JustAnotherJenny]

I agree with momto9kidlets -- my doula instructor named a very similar example during our training. I would encourage you to carry insurance.

 

[phathui5]

I don't carry insurance yet, but I've thought about it.

 

[LauraCochran]

Are y'all talking about carrying liability insurance or malpractice insurance?

 

[tessamami]

Those of you who are insured - what company?<br><br>
Thanks!

 

[jennybean0722]

Alot of us here in La. are talking about this too. More importantly we are talking about how its a good thing to have your own LLC. You file with your state, the cost probably varies. Here its around 75. If you do get sued, its your COMPANY that gets sued, not YOU. If you are sued, you can lose your house/everything. If you, as an employee of your company gets sued, there are a limited amount of things they can take you for.<br><br>
Depending on how things go, I plan on getting my LLC first. Then, if I get to be very busy (maybe a year or so?), I will get insurance. You do have to renew your LLC every year like your insurance. So to CYA it will cost me about 175-200 a year.

 

[momto9kidlets]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>tessamami</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15811725"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Those of you who are insured - what company?<br><br>
Thanks!</div>
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I had mine through CM&F, but now have just added an umbrella rider onto my American Family insurance. The umbrella costs way more, but it covers a lot more for us and was something we would have had anyhow.