In 1991, the Law on Health Care Institutions was passed in Poland. In the cited Act, the phrase 'patient rights' was used for the first time. Today, there are several other laws in our country that directly address this issue. In recent years, new offices in the field of patient rights have also been established (Ombudsman for Patients' Rights, Ombudsman for Psychiatric Patients and a Patient Rights Specialist working in hospitals). Discussions on patient rights mostly concern matters of a formal nature. The literature is mainly concerned with: the issue of consent to treatment, the issue of medical confidentiality, the aspect of patient dignity and the system of protection of the rights of the patient using health care services. However, rarely - in this context - do the debates address the importance of the interaction between patient and doctor. There is also a lack of reflection on the position taken by doctors and patients during treatment. This text aims to show the rights of the patient from a functional reflection perspective. It will first present the context of treatment, in which the roles are played by patients and doctors and nurses. In particular, the commercial face of medical services will be shown. An attempt will also be made to present the medical staff as the 'first spokespersons for the rights and interests of the patient'.
Patients' rights from a functional reflection perspective
14 December 2022