Notion of Patient Duties

Abstract

A trend is emerging in the Latvian legal system to refer to patient duties more and more, thus consolidating the idea of patient duties. Deficiencies are found, however, in the interpretation of the idea of patient duties, which lacks consistent distinction from related notions. Nowadays, not only is the attention to patient duties in the medical treatment relationship growing, but changes are also taking place which are directed at expanding the interpretation of patient duties, creating groundwork for new patient duties in medical treatment. The aim of the research is to analyse the notion of patient duties, find deficiencies in its interpretation and propose specific solutions to improve the definition of patient duties. The following primary research methods have been used in the study: analytical, systemic, teleological. The research results include an interpretation of the definition of patient duties, distinguishing it from related notions and analysing the trend of expanding the interpretation of patient duties. Based on this interpretation, a proposal is made for improvement of the laws and regulations.