Physician Communication Script for Induction of Labor
A structured checklist clinicians can use to provide clear informed consent and anticipatory guidance
Most disagreements about induction do not arise from the medical decision itself, but from how it was explained.
Patients often hear “we will induce,” while clinicians are actually initiating a multi-step care pathway with predictable contingencies.
This physician communication script provides a structured way to describe indication, alternatives, expected course, and possible outcomes before labor begins, helping transform a signed consent into true understanding and reducing preventable conflict later.
This is the mirror image of the patient advocacy checklist.
The goal is not persuasion. The goal is transparent, documented informed consent and prevention of misunderstanding. Many conflicts in labor care arise not from disagreement, but from patients not realizing what an induction actually involves.
You can introduce it simply:
“I want to explain exactly why I am recommending induction and what it will look like step-by-step so you can make a fully informed decision.”
Physician Counseling Checklist
1. Explain the Indication
□ The specific diagnosis or concern prompting induction
□ Whether the recommendation is medical or elective
□ What complication we are trying to prevent
□ The estimated magnitude of risk if pregnancy continues
□ The level of certainty of gestational age
□ Whether there is any immediate maternal or fetal danger
What follows will likely change how you view consent in labor care.
If you want to understand why some obstetric cases become lawsuits while others with similar outcomes never do, the answer is in the next section.
