§ 2505-a. Rights of breastfeeding mothers. 1. The principles\nenunciated in subdivision three of this section are declared to be the\npublic policy of the state and a copy of such statement of rights shall\nbe posted conspicuously in a public place in each maternal health care\nfacility and child day care facility. For purposes of this section,\n"maternal health care provider" means a physician, midwife, or other\nauthorized practitioner attending a pregnant woman; and "maternal health\ncare facility" includes hospitals and freestanding birthing centers\nproviding perinatal services in accordance with article twenty-eight of\nthis chapter and applicable regulations.\n 2. The commissioner shall make available to every maternal health care\nprovider, maternal health care facility and child day care facility, on\nthe health department's website for the purpose of health care\nfacilities to include such rights in the maternity information leaflet\nas described in section twenty-eight hundred three-j of this chapter, a\ncopy of the statement of rights provided in subdivision three of this\nsection in the top six languages other than English spoken in the state\naccording to the latest available data from the U.S. Bureau of Census,\nand shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary to ensure that such\npatients are treated in accordance with the provisions of such\nstatement.\n 3. The statement of rights shall consist of the following:\n "Breastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights"\n Choosing the way you will feed your new baby is one of the important\ndecisions you will make in preparing for your infant's arrival. Doctors\nagree that for most women breastfeeding is the safest and most healthy\nchoice. It is your right to be informed about the benefits of\nbreastfeeding and have your health care provider, maternal health care\nfacility and child day care facility encourage and support\nbreastfeeding. You have the right to make your own choice about\nbreastfeeding. Whether you choose to breastfeed or not you have the\nfollowing basic rights regardless of your race, creed, national origin,\nsexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or source of payment\nfor your health care. Maternal health care facilities have a\nresponsibility to ensure that you understand these rights. They must\nprovide this information clearly for you and must provide an interpreter\nif necessary. These rights may only be limited in cases where your\nhealth or the health of your baby requires it. If any of the following\nthings are not medically right for you or your baby, you should be fully\ninformed of the facts and be consulted.\n(1) Before You Deliver, if you attend prenatal childbirth education\nclasses provided by the maternal health care facility and all hospital\nclinics and diagnostic and treatment centers providing prenatal services\nin accordance with article 28 of the public health law you must receive\nthe breastfeeding mothers' bill of rights. Each maternal health care\nfacility shall provide the maternity information leaflet, including the\nBreastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights, in accordance with section\ntwenty-eight hundred three-i of the public health law to each patient or\nto the appointed personal representative at the time of prebooking or\ntime of admission to a maternal health care facility. Each maternal\nhealth care provider shall give a copy of the Breastfeeding Mothers'\nBill of Rights to each patient at or prior to the medically appropriate\ntime.\n You have the right to complete information about the benefits of\nbreastfeeding for yourself and your baby. This will help you make an\ninformed choice on how to feed your baby.\n You have the right to receive information that is free of commercial\ninterests and includes:\n * How breastfeeding benefits you and your baby nutritionally,\nmedically and emotionally;\n * How to prepare yourself for breastfeeding;\n * How to understand some of the problems you ma
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