Bill > A01019

This bill amends the New York Public Health Law to clarify the conditions under which doulas can access patients in maternal health care facilities. Specifically, the bill maintains the existing requirement that patients may designate a doula to have access during delivery and post-delivery inpatient care, and that facilities cannot deny this access. However, the bill introduces an important exception: maternal health care facilities are not obligated to grant doula access during emergency situations or when the doula's presence could potentially compromise the safety of the patient or the healthcare team. A doula is a trained professional who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to mothers before, during, and after childbirth. The bill aims to balance a patient's right to doula support with the need to maintain patient and staff safety in critical medical situations, ensuring that healthcare providers retain discretion in emergency scenarios to limit access if deemed necessary for safety reasons.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1019