Right to the respect of human dignity

  • Right to life and human dignity shall be an absolute right and cannot be restricted. During healthcare, right to human dignity is exercised, if the patient is treated decently during patient care.
  • For a medical examination an adequate and discreet environment shall be provided. This also means that if possible, no one except the staff shall be present during examinations. It is also possible to have no one in the examiner room from the staff but the physician, if requested. If the patient is examined in the clinic of a medical university or in a teaching hospital, other person(s) may be present in addition to the people taking part in the examination. This does not violate the dignity of the patient, however, the patient shall be notified thereabout and if possible, already on the day of admission. The aim of this regulation is to let the medical students learn about the examination of patients.
  • The personal freedom of people shall be respected also during patient care, however, this may be restricted to the necessary extent for the time strictly necessary, if it is absolutely imperative due to the condition of the patient; e.g., they endanger their own or other people’s life, bodily integrity or health.
  • A patient may only be made to wait for reasonable causes and for a reasonable duration.
  • Any patient with a lengthy terminal illness shall have the right to emotional nursing and care to alleviate suffering all the way to the end of their life. In this situation, significant help may involve psycho-oncology offered within the framework of hospice care.
  • Last honor shall also be the part of human dignity, even if it is not mentioned by law.
Last update: 2021. 09. 29. 13:23