Romania Chamber of Deputies approves new maternity rights law

The Romanian Chamber of Deputies has adopted a legislative project as a decision-making body that grants pregnant women the right to privacy and a chosen companion during labor and childbirth. The law, initiated by Senator Ruxandra Cibu Deaconu of the USR party, modifies and supplements the Patient Rights Law (No. 46/2003).

Under the new regulations, both public and private maternity units must implement organizational or technical measures, such as visual separation, to ensure the dignity and privacy of pregnant women from pregnancy through discharge. Additionally, women have the right to be accompanied by a person of their choice throughout labor, delivery, and inter-institutional transfers, provided medical, hygiene, and safety standards are met.

The legislation also aims to prevent the unnecessary separation of newborns from their mothers, except in cases justified by medical, epidemiological, or safety reasons. Healthcare facilities will be required to organize postnatal care to promote early mother-infant contact.