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. 2006 Sep 2:6:10.
doi: 10.1186/1472-698X-6-10.

Awareness and practice of patient's rights law in Lithuania

Danute Ducinskiene  1 , Jurgita Vladickiene, Ramune Kalediene, Irja Haapala
Affiliations

Awareness and practice of patient's rights law in Lithuania

Danute Ducinskiene et al. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. .

Abstract

Background: Patient's rights law is intended to secure good medical practice, but it can also serve to improve understanding between patients and medical staff if both were aware of their rights.

Methods: Awareness and practice of the new patient's rights law in Lithuanian health care institutions was explored through a survey of 255 medical staff and 451 patients in the four Kaunas city medical units in 2002. Participation rates were 74% and 66%, respectively.

Results: Majority of the medical staff (85%) and little over one half of the patients (56%) had heard or read about the Law on Patient's Rights (p < 0.001). Only 50% of professionals compared to 69% of patients thought information for patients about diagnosis, treatment results and alternative treatments is necessary (p < 0.001). A clear discrepancy was indicated between physicians informing the patients (80%-98% of physicians) and patients actually knowing (37%-54%) their treatment prognosis, disease complications or possible alternative treatment methods.

Conclusion: These results suggest a need for awareness-raising among patients to improve the practical implementation of the Patient's Rights Law in Lithuania.

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References

    1. Promotion of the Rights of Patients in Europe. WHO. 1995. pp. 29–44.
    1. Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania. Vilnius. 1999.
    1. Bijl N. Access to medical practice and to medical acts: patient protection and freedom of choice. 13th World Congress on Medical Law Helsinki. 2000. pp. 200–207.
    1. European Conference on Health and Human Rights. Conference book, Strasbourg. 1999. p. 4.
    1. The Law on Patient's rights and compensation to the damage upon patient's health. Valstybes zinios. 1996. p. 102. new redaction 2005.

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