Parliamentary Subcommittee Backs “Lex Szarlatan” Bill

A special parliamentary subcommittee has approved the “lex szarlatan” bill, which aims to tighten regulations on patient rights and grant the Patient Ombudsman new powers to combat medical disinformation.

Legislative Progress and Proposed Changes

The special parliamentary subcommittee voted in favor of the bill concerning patient rights and the Patient Ombudsman. The project now heads back to the committee for further deliberation.

The subcommittee discussed numerous legislative and substantive amendments. These proposals aim to narrow the definition of “pseudomedical” practices and specify groups requiring extra protection, such as minors, cancer patients, those with incurable illnesses, and individuals with mental health disorders.

Concerns Regarding Ombudsman Authority

Janusz Cieszyński of the PiS party expressed concern that the bill grants excessive powers to the Patient Ombudsman, potentially leading to abuse. He suggested replacing the term “medical disinformation” with a registry of online sources spreading false information.

Psychiatrist Maja Herman argued that medical misinformation is a dangerous weapon used to influence public thinking. She emphasized that the bill is not targeting natural medicine or herbalists, but rather those profiting from health-related fear and the deliberate spread of medical falsehoods.

New Enforcement Powers and Sanctions

The government bill grants the Patient Ombudsman powers similar to those of the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection. This includes issuing public warnings and temporary decisions forcing entities to immediately cease harmful actions.

Healthcare providers will be prohibited from operating without an official entry in the Registry of Entities Performing Medical Activities. Violators face severe financial penalties, with fines up to 1 million PLN for infringing on collective patient rights and up to 100,000 PLN for failing to cooperate with the Ombudsman.

Public Consultation and Regulatory Scope

The “lex szarlatan” bill has triggered nearly 5,000 comments during public consultations. Stakeholders ranging from herbalist and homeopath associations to the Supreme Medical Council and patient foundations have raised significant concerns regarding the scope of the new regulations.