Patients' rights in Europe

• Published in: Health policy (Amsterdam) Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 33 - 38
• Main Author: Leenen, Henk J.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.08.1987; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Series: Health Policy
• Subjects: Bioethics; Europe; Euthanasia, Active, Voluntary; Government Regulation; Health administration; Hospitals; International Cooperation; International organizations and patients' rights; Internationality; Legal aspects; Legal status, laws, etc; Legislation on patients' rights; Patient Advocacy - legislation & jurisprudence; Patient Rights; Patients; Patients' rights; Patients' rights in Europe; Personal Autonomy; Physician and patient; Western Europe; Europe; Legislation on patients' rights; International organizations and patients' rights; Patients' rights; Patients' rights in Europe; Legal Approach; Professional Patient Relationship
• ISSN: 0168-8510; 1872-6054
• DOI: 10.1016/0168-8510(87)90128-X

On the national and international level, legal instruments for the protection of the patient are developing. From the WHO-Europe study ‘Trends in Health Legislation’ trends regarding patients' rights on the national level in Europe are discussed. Moreover, an overview of international activities for the promotion of patients' rights is given. It is concluded that the movement towards the elaboration of patients' rights is evolving slowly and that the interaction between international and national activities in this field is unclear. As a consequence there exists underregulation of the rights of patients in Europe.