WGBO

What are the rights and obligations of physiotherapist and patient?

If a healthcare provider (for example a general practitioner, dentist or physiotherapist) treats you, you have a medical treatment agreement with him or her. The Medical Treatment Agreement Act (WGBO) contains the associated rights and obligations. The healthcare provider and the patient must adhere to this.

Obligations of healthcare provider:
A healthcare provider has a duty to help you. He must provide information about:

Your current health status and prospects
The nature and purpose of the examination and treatment
The expected consequences and risks of the examination and treatment for your health
Other methods of examination or treatment that may be considered.

If you do not receive enough information from your doctor, you can ask for further information. You can also ask to be told again if you don't understand it right away.

Patients' rights and obligations:
As a patient you have the right, among other things:

To choose your own healthcare provider
Clear information about your health status
To decide whether you consent to examination or treatment (based on the information you have received from the care provider)
On a second opinion from an expert other than the treating physician
Access to your medical file.

As a patient you also have duties:

You must inform the care provider clearly and completely so that he can examine and treat you in a responsible manner
You must cooperate as much as possible with examination and treatment by following the advice and instructions given to you by the care provider.

Information rights for young people and the incapacitated
Is the patient incompetent or younger than 12 years old? The legal representative will then be informed about examination and treatment. The legal representative is a parent or other family member, a representative or a mentor. If the patient is between 12 and 16 years old, the parents/guardians and the patient themselves will be informed. Patients over 16 years old are informed themselves.

Not fully informing in case of emergency
If immediate intervention is necessary in an emergency situation, a care provider may choose not to fully inform you. A care provider may also decide to withhold certain information. For example, if he fears that the information could lead to serious damage to you. The care provider must always discuss this with another care provider. He must also provide that information at a later, more appropriate time.

Patient may refuse information
You may not want to hear all the details about your condition. You can then refuse information. Your care provider must respect this right not to know. If your refusal creates a danger to you or others, the care provider will provide you with the minimum necessary information. This may be the case, for example, if you have a serious infectious disease.

Healthcare Client Rights Bill (Wcz)
The rights of clients (patients) and the obligations for healthcare providers are laid down in various laws. A number of these regulations, including the WGBO, are being replaced by a new law: Healthcare Client Rights Act (Wcz). By merging the rules from existing laws into 1 new law, the legal position of clients is strengthened and clarified.