Elderly Patients as a Vulnerable Category of the Population Requiring Special Legal Protection With Respect to the Provision of Medical Care

Abstract:

Russia like other European countries is seeing a growing trend to increased life span of its population. This situation results in an urgent need to address problems not only those related to provision of qualified medical care but a special treatment to protection of rights and legal interests of elderly people.

In accordance with effective legislation of the Russian Federation aging and elderly patients enjoy all rights and freedoms of capable citizens, but due to their physical and mental condition they are not always able to exercise their rights. Federal law "Legal basis of health care in the Russian Federation" does not provide for representatives of such group of patients to take part in medical care provision.

It is necessary to ensure additional legitimate right protection mechanisms in the legislation for capable elderly patients in the sphere of medical care. The government should act as a guarantor of rights protection for such socially vulnerable group of population.