Your rights

Patient rights

This document is based on various legal grounds in force in Poland, guaranteeing patients protection and numerous privileges.

The patient has the right to:

  1. 1 Health protection
  2. 2 Health services consistent with current medical knowledge and based on available methods of disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment
  3. 3 Comprehensive and understandable information about your health
  4. 4 A second opinion from another doctor and/or nurse
  5. 5 Confidentiality of all health-related information by those providing health services
  6. 6 Consent or refusal of health services
  7. 7 Reporting adverse drug reactions
  8. 8 Respect for intimacy and dignity, especially during the provision of health services
  9. 9 Respect for private and family life
  10. 10 Access to medical records and copies thereof
  11. 11 Filing an objection to a doctor's opinion or judgment
  12. 12 Pastoral care
  13. 13 Personal, telephone or written contact with other persons
  14. 14 Safekeeping of valuables in a deposit
  15. 15 Additional nursing care by a close person or another person designated by the patient
  16. 16 Dying in peace and dignity
  17. 17 Expressing objection to post-mortem collection of cells, tissues and organs, and revoking such objection at any time

Legal basis

  • Polish Act of 30.08.1991 on healthcare facilities (Journal of Laws 1991, No. 91 item 408)
  • Polish Act of 6.11.2008 on Patient Rights and the Patient Ombudsman (Journal of Laws 2012 item 159)
  • European Charter of Patients' Rights
  • WHO Patient Rights Declaration