Respectful childbirth in Peru: is there a law, and what rights do you have in labour?

Is there a law on humanised birth or obstetric violence?

No. We checked the official Congress bill system on 30 September 2026. The main bill is Bill 08260/2023-CR, the “Ley de parto humanizado y atención respetuosa del nacimiento”. Its summary reads:

“PROPONE REGULAR Y GARANTIZAR EL DERECHO DE LAS MUJERES A UN PARTO HUMANIZADO, ENTENDIENDO ESTE COMO UN PROCESO QUE RESPETA LOS DERECHOS DE LA MUJER, SUS DECISIONES, Y SU BIENESTAR FÍSICO Y EMOCIONAL DURANTE EL TRABAJO DE PARTO, PARTO Y POSPARTO”

(It proposes to regulate and guarantee women’s right to a humanised birth, one that respects their rights, their decisions and their physical and emotional wellbeing during labour, birth and after.)

The Women and Family Committee and the Health and Population Committee both approved it. Its latest recorded status is:

“EL CONSEJO DIRECTIVO, EN SESIÓN DEL 1 JUNIO DE 2026, TOMÓ CONOCIMIENTO DE LOS DICTÁMENES Y LOS INCLUYÓ EN EL ORDEN DEL DÍA”

(On 1 June 2026 the governing board took note of the committee reports and put them on the plenary agenda.)

The full Congress never voted on it. That Congress (2021-2026 term) ended in July 2026. As of 30 September 2026 the bill is not among the bills of the new Congress (2026-2031 term): it is not among the bills the Chamber of Deputies carried over («actualizados»), and not in the Senate. It is not law and you cannot rely on it. This page covers what exists today.

What is already required: dignity and privacy

The regulation of Ley 29414 on the rights of people using health services (D.S. 027-2015-SA) speaks of every person treated at an IPRESS, the term Peruvian rules use for a health facility. Article 19 says:

“Toda persona tiene derecho a ser atendida por personal de salud autorizado por la normatividad vigente, y con pleno respeto a su dignidad e intimidad, sin discriminación por acción u omisión de ningún tipo. El personal profesional de la salud y administrativo de la IPRESS debe brindar una atención con buen trato y respeto a las personas usuarias de los servicios de salud, garantizando el pleno ejercicio de sus derechos.”

(Everyone has the right to be treated by authorised staff, with full respect for their dignity and privacy and without discrimination. Clinical and administrative staff must treat patients well and respectfully.)

The same article bans discrimination based on origin, ethnicity, language, economic situation and other grounds. Our reading: shouting, mockery or exposing your body without need is not “good treatment” or respect for your privacy, and you can complain about it without waiting for a birth law.

Your signature before a caesarean, and its limits

Article 24 of the same regulation requires consent to be informed, free and voluntary (informado, libre y voluntario). It also says when it must be in writing:

“El consentimiento escrito deberá ejecutarse de forma obligatoria en las siguientes situaciones: a. Cuando se trate de pruebas riesgosas, intervenciones quirúrgicas, anticoncepción quirúrgica o procedimientos que puedan afectar la integridad de la persona. b. Cuando se trate de exploración, tratamiento o exhibición de imágenes con fines docentes.”

(Written consent is mandatory for risky tests, surgery, surgical contraception or procedures that may affect a person’s physical integrity, and for examination, treatment or showing images for teaching purposes.)

What this means for you:

• Caesarean. It is surgery. You must be asked to sign, unless it is an emergency.
• Tubal ligation. It is surgical contraception. It also needs your written consent.
• Students. If a student is going to examine you as part of their training, they need your written consent. If you give it, article 19 requires the doctor to protect your privacy and modesty.
• You can change your mind. Consent “puede ser revocado” (can be withdrawn) in the same form you gave it.

The limit is an emergency. The same article says: “No se requiere del consentimiento informado frente a situaciones de emergencia” (informed consent is not required in emergencies). In an emergency, the regulation does not require your signature.

You also have the right to refuse treatment. Article 17 says the doctor must tell you about that right “y a que se le expliquen las consecuencias de esa negativa” (and have the consequences of refusing explained to you).

Can you bring a companion?

The answer depends on the type of birth.

For a vertical birth (parto vertical), yes, it is provided for. The Ministry of Health’s standard on vertical birth, approved by R.M. 518-2016/MINSA, sets this goal:

“Fomentar en todos los establecimientos de salud a nivel nacional el protagonismo de la parturienta en todas las etapas del trabajo de parto, brindándole la opción de elegir la posición de dar a luz, con el acompañamiento de su pareja u otro familiar.”

(Put the woman in labour at the centre of every stage, giving her the option of choosing her birth position, accompanied by her partner or another relative.)

The same standard calls for emotional support “del acompañante elegido por la gestante” (from the companion she chooses) during dilation, and says that at full dilation she moves to the delivery room “para su atención con el acompañante elegido” (to be attended with her chosen companion). It also says to let her have sugary food and drinks, preparations or infusions, according to her customs.

That standard applies to regional health directorates, to facilities run by the IGSS and by regional and local governments, to EsSalud, to the armed forces and police health services, and “en los establecimientos de salud privados interesados en desarrollar el procedimiento” (to private facilities interested in offering the procedure). A private clinic that does not offer vertical birth is not bound by it.

Outside vertical birth, we found no general rule that guarantees you a companion. The closest is article 22 of D.S. 027-2015-SA: you can authorise other people to be present at your examination or surgery, but only with “la previa aprobación del médico tratante” (the treating doctor’s prior approval), without adding risk, following biosafety rules, and “el paciente asumirá los costos derivados de dicha participación” (the patient pays any costs). In practice, it depends on the doctor and may cost you.

Mistreatment during birth and Ley 30364

The phrase “violencia obstétrica” does not appear in the consolidated text of Ley 30364. But its article 5 defines violence against women and includes violence in health facilities:

“b. La que tenga lugar en la comunidad, sea perpetrada por cualquier persona y comprende, entre otros, violación, abuso sexual, tortura, trata de personas, prostitución forzada, secuestro y acoso sexual en el lugar de trabajo, así como en instituciones educativas, establecimientos de salud o cualquier otro lugar.”

(Violence in the community, by anyone, including rape, sexual abuse, torture, trafficking, forced prostitution, kidnapping and sexual harassment at work, in schools, in health facilities or anywhere else.)

Whether a specific act during your birth counts as violence under this law is for the authority to decide case by case. The law has no list of obstetric conduct.

Where to complain

Article 28 of D.S. 027-2015-SA gives you two levels: first a reclamo with the facility (IPRESS) or your insurer (IAFAS), then a queja with SUSALUD. We explain it step by step in patient complaints to SUSALUD. Your right to a copy of your medical record is in informed consent and medical records. If what happened was violence, the Ley 30364 channels are in reporting violence.

What this page does not cover

We do not cover the content of NTS 180-MINSA/DGIESP-2021 on gender violence in sexual and reproductive health services: its official text is a scanned image we could not read. We also do not cover internal EsSalud or hospital directives on companions, clinical birth protocols, or civil or criminal liability for malpractice. If the new Congress takes up the subject and passes a law, this page will change.