Patients’ rights in Nordic countries

Abstract:

The aphorism that “Patients have needs, not rights” is sometimes a set response to demands for increased patient rights. In fact, patients have both.

“Health” and “life” are primary values expressed by health care professionals and others. But the right to make one’s own choices about treatment options, health care professionals and hospitals, sometimes called “autonomy” or “self-determination” is even more important to many people. In spite of that, people are in many cases deprived of the chance to make meaningful health care choices. To strengthen the position of patients in health services, health legislation and patients’ rights may prove to be an effective instrument.

Compared to many other regions, the Nordic region has undergone a rapid development in legally safeguarding patients’ rights. Of eight European countries, which have introduced laws aimed at safeguarding patient autonomy, four are Nordic. These countries are Denmark, Iceland, Finland and Norway. The Norwegian Act has been passed by the Norwegian Parliament and will come in to force in 2000. Other countries with this type of legislation are the Netherlands, Israel, Lithuania and Greece.

Analysis of the existing situation in the Nordic countries reveals differences between legislators’ ambitions and reality. In the following the development in the five Nordic countries is discussed and the differences between the countries are analysed. As we shall see, not all that is labelled “patient rights laws” contains legally enforceable rights.