Bill proposes paid leave after abortion and public hospital guarantees

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would require abortions to be performed in public health network facilities or, very exceptionally, in centers linked to them. All public hospitals with gynecology and obstetrics services would need the staff, space and materials needed to perform them.
2. No professional at a public facility could spend more than 33% of their monthly work hours performing abortions. Regional governments would have six months, from the law's entry into force, to approve a guarantee plan with a protocol to transfer women to the nearest public center if all doctors at their reference center are conscientious objectors.
3. Health professionals could claim conscientious objection, but they would have to state it in advance and in writing. A confidential registry of objectors would be created, and health institutions could reorganize staff to keep the service running.
4. The bill would create a paid, non-recoverable 5-day leave for women who have a miscarriage or an abortion, and 4 weeks of leave for pregnancy losses at 14 or more weeks and abortions for medical reasons. Both would be regulated like maternity leave.

Who it affects

• Women who have an abortion or a pregnancy loss: Would have guaranteed access in public health care and paid leave of 5 days or 4 weeks.
• Health professionals at public facilities: Could be conscientious objectors in writing, with a 33% monthly cap on hours spent on abortions.
• Public hospitals with gynecology and obstetrics: Would need the resources and staff to perform voluntary abortions.
• Spain's regional governments (Comunidades Autónomas): Would have to approve a guarantee plan and a transfer protocol within six months.

Words worth knowing

Objeción de conciencia (conscientious objection)

A professional's right to refuse to perform an act for moral or religious reasons.

Permiso retribuido no recuperable (paid non-recoverable leave)

Paid time off that does not have to be made up by working later.

Pérdida gestacional (pregnancy loss)

The death or loss of a pregnancy before birth.

Proposición de ley (bill)

A text proposing a law that still must be debated and passed by Congress; it is not in force.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries