Patients’ rights and obligations
As a patient, you have rights and duties. These are governed partly by federal law and partly by cantonal law. The key provisions on patient care can be found in the Cantonal Patients' Act of the Canton of Zurich, which regulates medical care in all hospitals across the canton. The Cantonal Patients’ Act deals with a range of issues including the following:
Duty to provide information and patient’s right to self-determination
Schulthess Klinik may only provide treatment or operate with your consent and once we’ve fully informed you about the procedure. Your doctor will carefully assess the advantages and disadvantages of a particular course of treatment and discuss them with you before making a decision on how to proceed. We will also inform you about the potential consequences of refusing or discontinuing treatment against medical advice; You must assume responsibility for your decision in such instances. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about a particular treatment.
Duty of confidentiality
All Schulthess Klinik employees are bound by a duty of confidentiality. We will only share information about your state of health with third parties with your consent. We may, however, share your information with referring doctors or your contact persons as an exception. Please advise us if you do not agree to this.
Right to view your medical records
You are fully entitled to view your medical records at any time, even after your stay at Schulthess Klinik has ended. You can request to have your patient information updated or supplemented if it appears incorrect or incomplete.
Living will
A living will allows you to specify which treatment options you agree to undergo and which you refuse in advance, in the event of any loss of capacity to make that decision at a later date. You can also nominate a person to discuss treatment options with the doctors responsible for your treatment and make decisions on your behalf should that situation arise. It also provides an opportunity to specify your preferences regarding issues such as autopsies and organ donation.
More information about living wills
Use of medical data for research purposes
We conduct clinical and scientific research and studies as part of our commitment to continuously improving patient care. We may only use our patients’ medical data for this purpose with their written consent and – where stipulated by law – with the approval of the Zurich Cantonal Ethics Committee. It goes without saying that protecting patient data is very important to us. Find out more about taking part in research.
Comprehensive information about your rights and obligations
You can find a wealth of information all about the legislation protecting patients’ rights in the «Meine Rechte und Pflichten – Informationen zum Spitalaufenthalt» («My rights and obligations – information on hospital stays») brochure, published by the Department of Health of the Canton of Zurich and the Zurich Association of Hospitals (Verband Zürcher Krankenhäuser). You can also download the Cantonal Patients’ Act of the Canton of Zurich (Patientinnen- und Patientengesetz des Kantons Zürich) of 5 April 2004 below (only available in German).