EFCNI Rights of Parents and Newborns
1. The right to receive equal and early access to education
All (expecting) parents have the right to receive equal and early access to evidence-based adequate education.
This must include comprehensive and adequate information and counselling/advice on pre-conceptional and maternal issues, sexual and reproductive health, healthy lifestyles, healthy pregnancy, delivery,newborn care and early parenthood.
2. The right to evidence-based high-quality treatment and care
All (expecting) parents and newborns have the right to evidence-based, high-quality treatment and care as a basis for active and healthy ageing. This includes equipment, use of medication, as well as education and training of healthcare providers.
3. The right to remain as a family unit
All families have the right to be considered as a unit. Each member, and the family as a whole, has to be approached with dignity, respecting their social, cultural, developmental, emotional and clinical needs as well as their rights to privacy.
4. The right to comprehensive and accurate information
All parents have the right to be provided with comprehensive and accurate information on available techniques
and procedures of diagnosis and therapies, including risks in their own wording and language.
Based on this information, parents have to be included in the decision-making process to perform a chosen diagnostic and/or therapy service.
5. The right to be actively involved in child care
All parents have the right to receive appropriate education and be actively involved in their baby’s care giving in an effective and sensitive manner.
6. The right to complain
All parents have the right to voice complaints and recommend changes without fear of negatively affecting or influencing a change in the quality of care of their child.
7. The right to support
All (expecting) parents and children born at risk have the right to psychological, social, and financial support and, if required, individual culturally-appropriate bereavement support.
8. The right to pregnancy-, maternity/paternity- and parental leave
All parents are entitled to pregnancy -, maternity/paternity- and parental leave. Families of preterm infants, with multiple births and infants with illnesses should be entitled to extended leave periods.
9. The right to family-centred care
All parents and newborns have the right to family-centred care and to stay together while the child receives healthcare.
10. The right to allow close family members contact with the newborn
All parents have the right to allow close family members (i.e. grandparents, siblings or close friends) to have contact with the newborn.
11. The right to receive information about services and help groups
All parents have the right to receive adequate information about the existence and services of parents help groups and national parents and patients organisations.
12. The right to appropriate transfer and discharge procedures
All parents and newborns have a right to appropriate and individual transfer and discharge procedures.
13. The right to receive specialised aftercare services
All parents and newborns at high-risk have the right to receive evidence-based and experience-based, coordinated, specialised and appropriate follow-up and aftercare services.
14. The right to lifelong inclusion
All newborns with adverse neurologial and motoric outcome have the right to lifelong integration and/or inclusion as well as psychological, social and financial support.
