Below you may find the Patient’s Rights and the Hospitals’ Responsibilities towards their Patients in Cyprus

Patient’s Rights and Hospitals’ Responsibilities towards Patients in Cyprus

Right to Health Care and Treatment with Dignified Treatment and without Discrimination:

• Every patient has the right to access health services and continuous quality care that is characterised by both high technical standards as well as a human relationship between the patient and the healthcare provider, as befitting the patient's health needs, and extending to the final stage of their life. This includes receiving dignified treatment and equal care, without any unfavourable discrimination.

• The patient has the right to choose the medical facility or healthcare provider that they prefer for their own well-being.

Emergency Medical Situations or Serious Risk Conditions:

 

• In cases of emergency, medical incidents or situations of serious risk to medical health, every patient has the right to receive healthcare within a reasonable timeframe and to the maximum extent possible, from a capable healthcare provider or specific medical facility.
• Whilst receiving healthcare, the patient has the right to attain support from their family, relatives and friends, as well as religious, spiritual, and psychological support.
• The patient has the right to pain relief and suffering relief according to available scientific knowledge.

Right to Information:

 

• Upon admission to a medical facility, the patient is informed about the identity and professional status of those providing medical care to him/her, as well as about operational regulations and conditions of stay in the respective healthcare facility.
• Each patient has the right to comprehensive and sufficient information, presented in a understandable manner, regarding their rights, the healthcare services provided to them, the diagnosis and prognosis of their medical condition, the recommended possible treatment, the risks associated with the proposed treatment, potential side effects, pain, and discomfort that may arise from the treatment, the likelihood of success, as well as potential risks in case of non-treatment.
• In cases where the patient is unable to be informed, the patient can designate another person of their choice to receive information on their behalf.
• The patient has the right to seek a second medical opinion and receive assistance from any medical facility or healthcare provider towards his/her wellbeing.
• After being discharged from a medical facility, the patient has the right to request and receive a written report describing their diagnosis, prognosis, therapeutic approach, and their overall health condition.
• Information that could potentially cause significant harm to the patient's mental or physical health may not be disclosed to the patient; in such cases, this information is provided to a family member or friend.

Consent:

 

• A prerequisite for any form of care is the patient's consent, which is given after the patient has received comprehensive and understandable information from the healthcare provider. If the patient has chosen a third party from which to receive information, that third party makes decisions on the patient’s behalf and provides written consent.
• Patient consent is also required for the use of any substances taken by the patient and for any clinical procedure. Consent is considered to be given when substances taken by the patient are intended for the patient's appropriate treatment, for which consent has already been given.
• If the patient is incapable of giving consent due to mental or physical condition, and care is deemed urgent and necessary, consent is assumed except if it is evident that the patient has expressed a desire to refuse treatment/ substances in advance.
• In the case of a patient who is a minor, parental or another person's consent is necessary. The opinion of the minor is taken into account as a decisive factor, with its significance increasing based on the minor patient’s age and maturity.
• In any case where proper consent cannot be obtained due to urgent need for medical care, the healthcare provider judges and acts in the patient's best health interest or in accordance with the patient's best interests.

Confidentiality:

 

• All information related to diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and any other personal information is kept confidential even after the patient's death. The patient's written consent is necessary to provide any such information to third parties.

Privacy Protection:

 

• Every medical facility and healthcare provider must provide services with appropriate respect for the personal and family life of the patient, ensuring the protection of the patient's privacy during the provision of health care.

Medical Records Keeping:

 

• Every medical facility or healthcare provider must maintain, safeguard, and update a medical record for each of its patients, which records, among other things, the diagnosis and course of the patient's treatment, the patient's identity, the responsible healthcare provider, and if known, the patient's medical history.

Patient Rights Officer and Complaint Examination Committee:

 

• Every state hospital must have a Patient Rights Officer responsible for the safeguarding of patient rights.
• The Patient Rights Officer’s duties include providing advice and assistance to patients for the preservation of their rights, handling and managing immediate complaints, and referring patient complaints to the Complaint Examination Committee.
• Among the duties of the Patient Rights Officer is also guiding and informing the Healthcare facility’s personnel about patient rights.

If you desire any further information or legal advice regarding specific issues, please contact us.

Note: The information provided in the above text is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered official legal advice.

 

We remain at your disposal for any further assistance. Do not hesitate to contact us at any time for any further clarifications you may need.

Sincerely,

Marinos Shambartas

Via Marinos Shambartas Law Firm