Parliament approved on March 14, 2025, in a global final vote, the creation of information and protection measures against obstetric violence, as well as a multidisciplinary committee for pregnancy and childbirth rights.
What is obstetric violence?
Obstetric violence happens when a pregnant woman or a person in labor is treated disrespectfully or undergoes medical procedures without clear information or consent. Can manifest itself through unnecessary interventions, the imposition of rigid rules without medical justification or comments that minimize the pain and rights of women.
Common examples include realization of cuts (episiotomies) without authorizationa denial of a companion During delivery, the Excessive use of medical interventions Without explanation, as when a woman asks to have a more natural birth and is pressured to make a cesarean section unnecessarily.
Beyond physical aspects, Obstetric violence can also be emotionalwith the devaluation of women’s suffering with phrases like “no complaints, everyone goes through this.” Deep down, it is any attitude that disrespects the woman and makes her feel humiliated or powerless at the time of her baby’s birth.
Obstetric violence is the physical and verbal action exerted by health professionals on the body and procedures in the reproductive area of women or other pregnant people, which is expressed in dehumanized treatment, abuse of medicalization or pathologization of natural processes, disrespecting the protection regime in prejudice, medically assisted procreation, pregnancy, childbirth, birth and puerperium III of of March 21.
What is it Episiotomy?
Episiotomy is a cut made in the region between the vagina and the anus (the perineum) during deliveryin order to widen the opening to facilitate the output of the baby. This intervention was, for many years, performed routinely, but it is now known that It is not always necessary and can bring more risks than benefits.
When performed without need, it can cause prolonged pain, difficulty in healing and problems in postpartum recovery. Therefore, the be done Only in specific situations, such as when there is a risk of severe perineum or if the baby is in suffering and it is necessary to accelerate delivery.
What are the main objectives of Law No. 33/2025?
The law aims to promote rights related to prejudice, medically assisted procreation, pregnancy, childbirth, birth and puerperium. For this, it establishes Information and Protection Measures against obstetric violence and Creates the Multidisciplinary Commission for Rights in Pregnancy and Childbirth.
How will pregnant women be informed about their rights?
All health facilities that perform births should affix posters with information about the protection regime In prejudice, medically assisted procreation, pregnancy, childbirth, birth and puerperium.
These posters should also indicate the entities to which situations of obstetric violence may be denounced.
What is the multidisciplinary committee for pregnancy and childbirth rights?
It is a commission created by the new law with the following responsibilities:
- Promote information campaigns on rights in prejudice, medically assisted procreation, pregnancy, childbirth, birth and puerperium.
- Sensitize to the respect of rights in childbirth and humanization, aiming to eliminate practices that configure obstetric violence.
- Prepare an annual report with official data on satisfaction with regard to health care in childbirth and compliance with birth plans.
What are the predicted penalties for advised practices, such as routine episiotomy?
The realization of routine episiotomies and other unjustified repeated practices can result in:
What changes will be implemented in the education system?
The Ministry of Education is responsible for including contents on obstetric violence in sex education programs.
The government, through the Ministry of Education, is responsible for including information on obstetric violence in the contents of sex education, promoting respect for sexual and reproductive autonomy and the elimination of gender violence, adequately to different levels of education, under the terms of of August 6th.
What does the order of doctors say?
Regarding the law, arguing that it does not adequately defend women and disrespects the role of doctors. States that the law is technically misunderstood and is not based on scientific evidence, so it requires the revocation of the law
“A rejects the law in full and frontally and frontally the whole process “ which led to its approval by the Assembly of the Republic, according to the president Carlos Cortes.
Are there criticism from other entities?
It emphasizes that The definition of obstetric violence in the law is incompleteomitting aspects such as psychological and emotional violence, the exercise of power and issues related to consent.
The egg also underlines the importance of include topics such as genre, ethics, empathy and consent in the training curricula of health professionals.
Nurses Order Criticizes New Law
A It points out weaknesses to the law that tells at risk the safety and dignity of health professionals and regrets that it has not been heard.
In a statement on 3 April, the Order of Nurses (OE) recognizes the good intentions of the law, but considers that this cannot be realized without hearing who is on the ground.
“The ambiguity of the law, coupled with the absence of technical criteria and the creation of a sanctioning framework, can generate insecurity, distancing and defensive practices,” says OE president Luís Filipe Barreira, quoted in the statement, adding: “The dignity of care begins by respecting those who care.”
The official also argues that there will be no true humanization without further professionals, better conditions and “effective appreciation” of the teams.
When Law No. 33/2025 comes into force?
The law came into force on the day after its publication, that is, on April 1, 2025, producing effects with the entry into force of the state budget subsequent to its publication.
