A legislative proposal has been introduced in Kyrgyzstan to create specialized departments for confidential childbirth, aiming to address issues related to dangerous births outside hospitals and discourage the abandonment of newborns, TuraNews.kz reports.
The bill, presented for public discussion by Member of Parliament Zhyldyz Sadyrbaeva, seeks to enhance the protection of human health by modernizing the public health system, with a focus on safeguarding the well-being of both the child and the mother.
The proposed amendments aim to provide an alternative to mothers who may otherwise leave their newborns with strangers. In a confidential childbirth setting, mothers can deliver their babies in a facility while maintaining anonymity, concealing their identity from third parties, including medical personnel involved in the birth process.
The establishment of specialized departments for secret childbirth, ensuring confidentiality in cases of child abandonment, is seen as an effective tool to address various problems, including social orphanhood. These departments are envisioned to offer direct access for specialists in preventing child abandonment to women considering such decisions. Timely professional assistance and a supportive approach can significantly influence a woman’s decision, preventing the act of abandonment. Postpartum support through social services and public organizations is also proposed to assist women who choose to raise their newborns, helping them navigate challenges that may have initially led to considering abandonment.
The proposed amendments emphasize confidentiality and anonymity, introducing criminal liability for the disclosure of medical confidentiality. It is clarified that the option of confidential childbirth does not imply state endorsement or encouragement of newborn abandonment. Instead, it offers a chance for women to maintain anonymity while ensuring proper care for the child, with the possibility of subsequent adoption.
