Summary

Finland was the first country in Europe to protect the rights of patients by law. The Patients Status and Rights Act, passed in 1993, regulates the status of patients, provides for the requirements of quality of and access to medical care, the duty of physicians to provide patients with appropriate information concerning their treatment and the patients’ right of autonomy. The Act governs state and private health care, and social care services. The Act also prescribes institutions to which patients can go if they are not satisfied with the treatment offered to them. Further, the institution of ombudsman was created. An ombudsman advises patients on interpretation of the law and on issues concerning legal liability.