Where to Report Medical Malpractice or Hospital Complaints: Patient Guide

The Patient Rights Ombudsman has released a comprehensive guide detailing which institutions handle healthcare complaints for patients using both public and private medical services.

Violation of Patient Rights by a Doctor or Hospital

Reporting an issue to the Patient Rights Ombudsman (RPP) is justified when fundamental patient rights are violated during the provision of medical services. This option is primarily used when core rights are breached during treatment.

It must be noted that the Patient Rights Ombudsman does not hold jurisdiction across all areas of medicine and law. This body does not review appeals against rulings issued by ZUS medical examiners, occupational health physicians, or disability adjudication teams, as separate appeal procedures apply to those matters.

Facility Organization and Complaints to Hospital or Clinic Management

Not every irregularity requires state authority intervention. Difficulties related to the day-to-day organization of a medical entity can be reported directly to the management of the facility, which generally resolves the issue the fastest. Reports directed to the management should specifically concern administrative and operational issues.

Issues with National Health Fund Services and Direct Complaints

The National Health Fund (NFZ) exclusively supervises services financed from public funds. Therefore, cases involving the violation of contract terms established between a facility and the fund must be reported to the NFZ. The fund accepts complaints regarding publicly funded healthcare terms.

Additional Avenues for Hospital or Doctor Complaints

Depending on the specific nature of the problem, other specialized entities may be appropriate for handling the complaint. Reports can be submitted in parallel to multiple offices to ensure proper review.

For the efficient processing of a complaint, it is advisable to precisely describe the incident, indicate the date, specify the facility details, and attach copies of available medical documentation.