In October 2021, Law No. 21,372 came into force, which guarantees support for children, adolescents (NNA) and pregnant people on behalf of their fathers, mothers, guardians or significant others in need of their health care (ambulatory or hospitalized). Its objective is to promote the social and emotional development of patients, involving the family in the care process.
● It provides that, in the case of children and adolescents hospitalized or undergoing outpatient services, all providers of health actions must contemplate in the internal regulations of their establishments the obligation to allow the accompaniment of their father, mother or significant person at all times.
● Establishes that, in the case of people in labor, establishments will allow the company of the significant person they determine at all times.
● The right to accompaniment may only be limited when this could constitute a danger to the child, adolescent or pregnant person.
● It regulates not only the exercise of the right to accompaniment, but also the duty of health establishments to provide companions with dignified and respectful treatment.
● This Law incorporates respect for autonomy regarding the decision of accompaniment.
When a boy or girl patient enters through the admission section to be hospitalized, they are told that they must be accompanied by an adult 24 hours a day, either by their mother, father, guardian or significant companion. In the case of adolescents, they are asked if they want to be accompanied.
The pregnant person has the right to be accompanied by a significant person who authorizes them throughout the entire process of labor. In the postpartum room, different schedules are established for companions and visitors.
NNA (Children and Adolescents)
● In the case of children and adolescents, the companion can be there 24 hours a day. Visits must respect the schedule established by the hospital for these purposes.
Pregnant people in labor
● In the case of the pregnant person, the companion may remain during labor and the immediate postpartum period, regardless of the duration of the process.
● The significant companion authorized by the pregnant person may enter the postpartum service at 3:00 p.m., and may remain with the postpartum person until 7:00 p.m., from Monday to Sunday.
● Visitors can enter from Monday to Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (*)
● One companion is allowed per patient and one visit, and the change can be made with another person authorized by the postpartum person within the same schedule.
● Visits to the Neonatology Service are allowed during established hours: From 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m for both parents.
(*) The schedule is subject to modifications as determined by the institution, either in health situations or service needs.
Health care can cause stress and worry in children and pregnant people, so it is essential that they have the right and the appropriate conditions to be accompanied, because this:
● Provides social and emotional support.
● Reduces stress in children and adolescents and favors a reduction in days of hospitalization.
● Facilitates immediate attention to the needs of children and adolescents.
● Family involvement helps in recovery.
● In a facilitating element of humanized, respected and personalized childbirth.
● Increases the level of satisfaction of the experience.
● For the children's companions, there is a chair, two reclining chairs and a sofa bed that are located next to the patient's bed.
● In the pre-birth service there are single and double rooms that have a reclining chair.
● In the puerperium there are double rooms that have a chair to be used by the companion.
● All rooms have a closet that you can use to leave your belongings.
● Companions must comply with the rules of coexistence (maintain free and orderly spaces, do not smoke inside the establishment, etc.).
● When the accompaniment constitutes a danger for the child or pregnant person.
● When the surrogate does not give consent or request privacy.
● Presence of active infectious disease.
● Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
● Acute mental health problems.
● Psychomotor agitation.
● In cases of hostility or violence towards the pregnant/postpartum person and/or establishment staff.
● Judicial resolutions or legal provisions that prevent you from approaching children and adolescents or pregnant people.
● When the pregnant person reveals that her companion is her aggressor.
● When the companion does not respect the rules of the clinical service or the institutional internal regulations.
● A serious health condition that does not allow accompaniment.
● In the event that current national health provisions indicate it, the Clinical Hospital may limit the number of companions.
● TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE STANDARD LAW 21,372