title: My Obstetrician Got Me Fired: How Work Notes Can Harm Pregnant Patients and What to Do About It.
abstract: Prenatal care providers are frequently asked to provide employment notes for their patients requesting medical leave or changes to work duties. Writing employment notes correctly can help patients negotiate for and obtain medically indicated workplace accommodations, allowing them to continue to work and earn an income. However, a poorly written or poorly timed note can jeopardize a patient's employment and salary. This commentary provides an overview of pregnancy-related employment laws and guidance in writing work accommodations letters that allow pregnant women to keep their jobs while maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah; and the University of California Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Leah N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Megan J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Huchko
authors.forename: Marya G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Zlatnik
authors.forename: Joan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004282:Documentation / Q000592:standards*; D004651:Employment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017132:Workplace / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology