Chile: la futura Ley de Derechos y Deberes de las Personas en Salud

The Supreme Government of Chile has presented a bill of patients' rights and responsibilities to the Chamber of Deputies. The aim of this bill is to improve the relationship between individuals and the health service and to facilitate the expression of individuals' opinions and the response of the system when patients' rights are not respected. Once approved, this future law will be applied to all health services providers, either public or private, without regard for the regulations of the health system to which the individual belongs or is affiliated. In essence, this future law will state that, irrespective of the health services provider, all individuals have the right to receive health care without arbitrary discrimination for reasons of sex, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, race, religion, physical or mental condition, socioeconomic level, ideology, political or trade union affiliation, culture, nationality, age, genetic information, health system, or other factors. Two of the points giving rise to the greatest discussion in parliament concern the patient's right to refuse medical care and matters relating to ownership of medical records.