Complaint about medical treatment

Patients who feel they have been treated badly or incorrectly, or who assume that their doctor has violated medical obligations, have the right to complain.  What should be taken into account?

Reasons for a complaint can be:

• lack of information by the doctor
• treatment errors
• inadequate medical care
• violation of the duties of a doctor
• denial of patients’ rights
• misuse of data in a practice or clinic
• breaches of hygiene regulations
• unreasonable waiting times.

On the one hand, various institutions advise on the legal options and also provide advice in individual cases. On the other hand, patients can turn to an official complaints office with their concerns, which supports them in a complaints procedure. This applies to both patients with statutory and private insurance.

Counselling and support for a complaint are free of charge. Patients also do not have to pay for medical reports from the Medical Service of the Health Insurance Funds or an arbitration board of the medical associations.

If experts statements have to be request, this may involve costs.

If you want to make a claim, you should not wait too long to complain. For example, medical malpractice claims expire after three years.

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