What rights do I have as a patient when receiving treatment in the hospital?
February 12, 2022 | 55,00 EUR | answered by Laura Vollmann
Dear Medical Law Attorney,
My name is Martina Wagner and I have a question regarding my rights as a patient during treatment in the hospital. Recently, I was admitted to the hospital for an acute illness and I am not satisfied with certain aspects of the treatment.
First of all, I feel that I have not been adequately informed about my diagnosis and the planned course of treatment. Despite multiple inquiries, I feel that important information has been withheld from me. Additionally, I have concerns about the quality of medical care, as I am experiencing persistent pain and complications after the surgery.
Furthermore, I am worried about my data protection rights, as I am unsure about which data about me is being stored and shared. I want to ensure that my personal information is treated confidentially and only used for medical purposes.
My question to you is: What rights do I have as a patient in a hospital and how can I ensure that my rights are respected? Are there specific laws or regulations that I can rely on to protect my interests? I request your support and thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Martina Wagner
Dear Mrs. Wagner,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding your rights as a patient during treatment in the hospital. As a lawyer specializing in medical law, I am happy to help you and provide you with information about your rights.
As a patient in a hospital, you have a variety of rights that are legally regulated to protect your interests. First and foremost, you have the right to comprehensive information about your diagnosis, the planned course of treatment, risks, and alternatives. This right to information and education is enshrined in the Patient Rights Act and is intended to ensure that you are involved in medical decisions and can act autonomously as a patient.
If you feel that important information is being withheld from you, I recommend expressing this to the treating physicians and the hospital. If a satisfactory resolution is not reached, you can contact the patient advocate or the arbitration board for medical liability issues to enforce your rights.
Regarding the quality of medical care, you have the right to appropriate treatment according to current medical standards. If you have concerns about the quality of care, you can contact the relevant supervisory authority or the medical association to request a review of the treatment.
As for data protection, your personal data in the hospital is specially protected. The Federal Data Protection Act and the General Data Protection Regulation regulate the handling of sensitive health data and ensure that they may only be used for medical purposes. If you have doubts about the confidentiality of your data, you can contact the hospital's data protection officer or the data protection supervisory authority.
In summary, as a patient in the hospital, you have the right to comprehensive information, appropriate treatment, and protection of your personal data. If your rights are not being upheld, there are various options available to enforce your interests.
I hope that this information has been helpful to you and I am available for any further questions you may have.
Best regards,
Laura Vollmann, Lawyer specializing in medical law
