Patients’ Rights and Patients’ Participation Individual and Collective Involvement: Partnership and Participation in Health Law

Abstract:

The focus and starting point of all objectives in guaranteeing patient and citizen rights is the involvement of patients (the insured) and citizens in communication and decision-making processes at the level of individual relations and structural (system) conditions in health care. Health care systems can be financed through insurance or taxes.

The question of involvement arises in all systems. In the individual relationship (doctor/nurse-patient) the model for involvement is shared decision-making; involvement of citizens at the level of the health care system means to be heard, to give advice and/or to co-determine. We refer to participation in this context.

Rights guarantee involvement. Patient and citizen rights relate to dignity (nondiscrimination, confidentiality, respect of personality), information about and quality of health services and products, and access to both.