Caring for a newborn requires not only medical support, but also an understanding of and respect for parents’ rights in hospitals, which include, among others, the right to:
- Information about support programs—both within the hospital and outside it—which may include financial assistance, counseling, or rehabilitation programs.
- Privacy—medical information regarding the child should be confidential and accessible only to authorized individuals.
- Decent conditions—during the hospital stay, including access to restrooms and places to rest.
- Education—on caring for a preterm infant through access to training sessions and workshops that help parents care for their child after discharge from the hospital.
- Complaints and requests regarding the child’s medical care, providing the opportunity to submit comments and concerns.
- A discharge plan—which includes information on follow-up care, check-ups, and contact information for specialists to continue the child’s treatment.
From access to information, through the right to be present, to making decisions about certain aspects of care, parents have the right to be informed and involved at every stage of their child’s hospital stay!
More tips in our previous blog post on this topic, and you can find additional information about infants and preventive healthcare on our blog and in the news section of our Foundation’s website.
