Patient Rights: Who Qualifies and What You Get
Understand your legal rights to medical information and self-determination to ensure your healthcare decisions are respected in Switzerland.
Patient Rights are legal protections designed to ensure that every person receiving medical care is treated with dignity and holds the power to make decisions about their own body.
Who it's for
These protections are universal and apply to all patients, regardless of their specific medical condition or the type of healthcare setting they are in.
What you get
The core of these rights is centered on two main pillars: information and self-determination.
First, you have a right to information. This means healthcare providers must communicate your health status and any proposed medical treatments to you in a way that you can understand. You should not be left in the dark about your diagnosis or the risks associated with different medical paths.
Second, you have the right to self-determination. This gives you the legal authority to make decisions about your own medical care. You are an active participant in your treatment plan, and your choices regarding what procedures you accept or refuse are protected.
What it costs you
There is no fee to exercise these rights. Accessing your medical information and participating in your own healthcare decisions is free.
The catch to know
While you have the right to self-determination, there is a specific requirement to ensure your wishes are honored if you become unable to communicate them yourself. If you want to outline how you wish to be treated in a future medical crisis, you must ensure your living wills are clearly documented. In French, these are referred to as Directives anticipées. Without clear, documented instructions, it may be difficult for medical professionals to know exactly what you would have wanted during an emergency.
How to apply
- Familiarize yourself with the standard of information you are entitled to receive from your doctors.
- Determine if you have specific medical preferences for your future care.
- Create a clear, written document if you wish to establish living wills (Directives anticipées).
- Share these documents with your medical providers to ensure they are officially part of your medical record.