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The rights of the patients

Patients are entitled to good care and treatment, and treatment must not violate the human dignity, convictions or privacy of patients. Patients’ mother language, personal needs and culture should be taken into account as far as possible.

Treatment guarantee

The period from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis may take weeks, even months. The statutory public healthcare guarantee, which came into effect in 2005 seeks to speed up access to treatment:

  • Patients’ treatment needs have to be assessed within three days of them contacting their health centre.
  • If the situation of patients is such that they need to go to a health centre, this must be arranged within three days.
  • A hospital physician must make assessment of a patient’s treatment needs within three weeks of the hospital receiving a referral. The assessment can be made on the basis of a referral or the patient may be requested to have an examination.

The Finnish law on the rights of patients

Treatment requires the patient’s consent. If the patient refuses to undergo treatment, another means of treatment must be agreed. The patient can also refuse all treatment. The patient must be informed of his or her state of health, the extent of the treatment, the risks involved and the alternatives to treatment. If the patient is unable to decide on the course of treatment, the wishes of the patient must be clarified with the help of relatives by giving them the necessary information on the patient’s condition and treatment.

Patient information

Patient records are confidential, and healthcare personnel are not permitted to provide information about them to a third party without the written permission of the patient. Third parties include patients’ relatives.

Patients are entitled to inspect the information contained in their patient records and to require that wrong information is corrected. A request to inspect one’s patient records and a possible application to have wrong information corrected have to be submitted to the institution keeping the records.

Patients’ ombudsman

Each hospital has by law to have a patients’ ombudsman. The ombudsman specializes in patients’ rights and provides information on the position and entitlements of patients. If necessary, the ombudsman will help patients make an objection, complaint or application for compensation.

Filing an objection to a treatment unit

If a patient is dissatisfied with his or her treatment or care he or she may make a written objection to the head of the clinic or unit, who must then reply in writing within a reasonable period of time . The reply must state what measure has been taken or how the matter is otherwise to be resolved. Filing an objection does not preclude the right to make a complaint concerning treatment to the authorities.

A complaint to the authorities

If a patient is dissatisfied with his or her treatment or care, he or she may make a written complaint to the relevant provincial administration. One may make a complaint even if an objection has been made previously. Complaints receive a decision in writing. A complaint may result in attention being given to a matter, an admonition or a warning. A complaint cannot overrule a course of treatment, nor can the authorities determine the payment of damages based on it.

Patient notification of damages

Patient insurance in Finland provides compensation for bodily injury sustained in connection with treatment. The Finnish Patient Insurance Centre handles compensation for injury to patients. Compensation can be sought by completing a claims form, available from the hospital’s patient ombudsman or a social worker. The claims form is sent to the Finnish Patient Insurance Centre, which deals with compensation claims.

Further information



Updated 5.3.2010