Catalonia's Parlament asks for the same care after a baby's death in every hospital

When a baby dies during pregnancy or shortly after birth, what happens in the hospital in the following hours stays with a family for life: whether parents are offered time with their baby, keepsakes, clear information and someone to talk to. In Catalonia, as in many places, that care has depended a great deal on which hospital a family is in.

On 5 November 2026, the Parlament de Catalunya approved a motion that sets out to change this.

What the Parlament asked for

The motion followed an interpellation of the Catalan government on perinatal grief, brought in October by Junts deputy Jeannine Abella. All its points were approved by a majority, and groups across the chamber supported most of them. It asks the government to:

• Apply the same protocols in every hospital. The existing protocols and guide on perinatal and neonatal death should apply in all hospitals, with the same resources and conditions.
• Train professionals. Staff who care for families after a perinatal or neonatal death should receive specific, accredited training in perinatal grief.
• Guide funeral services. Within three months, the government should draft and share recommendations for funeral companies in Catalonia on how to care for families after a perinatal or neonatal loss.

In the debate, Abella also called for a comprehensive protocol with minimum standards for funeral services, specialised psychological care and guidance for families, and for maternity leave after such a loss. Several speakers stressed that the motion does not affect the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy.

A motion asks the government to act; it is not a law. In October, however, Catalonia's health minister, Olga Pané, opened the door to a law on perinatal grief.

Why it matters

Parents rarely remember protocols. They remember whether someone explained what was happening, whether they were given time, whether anyone said their baby's name. Those hours cannot be repeated, which is why consistent care matters so much.

Funeral services are part of this too. In Spain, burial or cremation is required from 26 weeks of pregnancy; before 26 weeks it is not, but families can ask for their own farewell. Clear and kind guidance from funeral companies can spare families confusion at an extremely hard moment.

Leave remains an open question across Spain. In February 2026, the Supreme Court confirmed that partners are not entitled to birth leave when a baby dies before birth, a decision many families find deeply unfair.

At MIMATIS we compare support after baby loss in many countries, and we see the same pattern almost everywhere: what a family receives depends on where they give birth. It matters that a parliament has named this problem so clearly, and with such broad support.

What you can ask for today

Whatever happens next in Parliament, Catalonia already has an official guide, the Guia d’acompanyament en el dol perinatal (Generalitat de Catalunya, in Catalan). If you are in hospital now, you can:

• Ask for time with your baby, to see and hold them if you wish.
• Ask about keepsakes, such as photographs and hand and footprints.
• Ask whether psychological support is available, in hospital and after you go home.
• Ask about your options for a funeral or farewell.
• If you feel unheard, ask to speak with the hospital social worker or contact the patient care office (Atenció a la Ciutadania). You can also show the team the official guide.

Our guide for Spain explains leave, registration, funerals and where to find support, in English, Spanish, Catalan and other languages: mimatis.org/spain.

This article is also available in español and català.