Analiza statusu prawnego Rzecznika Praw Pacjenta – zagadnienia wybrane

Polish Patient Ombudsman (PPO) was established to protect individual and collective patients’ rights. Contrary to original plans, it was established as an organ of central government administration. Therefore, the name may be confusing, as it suggests that PPO belongs to the group of entities similar to traditional ombudsmen. In fact, it implements government policy. This lack of independence is associated with the necessity of giving PPO the power to impose penalties for breach of the so called “collective patients’ rights”. Accordingly, PPO can be considered as a kind of “subtype” of the Ombudsman only from the perspective of competencies in relation to violation of the individual patient’s rights. The article analyzes the origins of the Patient Ombudsman institution in Poland, its place in Polish polity and its legal prerogatives in comparison to other bodies that offer protection of patient’s rights. The authors analyze in detail the competence of the Patient Ombudsman in case of violation of individual and collective patients’ rights.