Buenos Aires Chamber of Deputies adopts Ley Nicolás for patient safety

The Buenos Aires Chamber of Deputies has approved adherence to the National Law 27.797, known as the ‘Ley Nicolás’. The legislation was prompted by the death of 24-year-old Nicolás Deanna, who died from undetected bacterial meningitis.

The law establishes a framework to improve healthcare quality and safety by implementing standardized protocols and monitoring safety indicators. It introduces a ‘just culture’ approach, which focuses on analyzing human error through a non-punitive lens to encourage reporting and institutional learning.

Key provisions include the creation of the Unified Registry of Sentinel Events (RUDEC) to record adverse incidents confidentially. The law also mandates the establishment of action protocols, regular audits, and mechanisms for patients to file complaints without fear of retaliation, while ensuring adequate working conditions for healthcare teams.