Patient rights: special reference to the Ecuadorian legislation ; Derechos del paciente: especial referencia a la legislación ecuatoriana

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze the rights that a patient has in the health care system in the Republic of Ecuador. There are many dilemmas that arise when a patient rejects a medical treatment. This approach is usually an inconvenience not only for doctor but also for the patient and by extension to the judge on duty. When we speak about refusal of medical treatment, in most cases, this triggers different opinions and arguments can arise. One of the most common situations in the hospitals of Ecuador occurs when a person who is a Jehovah's Witness rejects a blood transfusion, which goes against his or her conscience educated by means of the Bible. In this article we will discuss how the Ecuadorian legislation aims to achieve a doctor-patient relationship based on cooperation and respect. ; El estudio tiene la finalidad de evidenciar los diferentes derechos que tiene el paciente en el sistema sanitario de la República del Ecuador. Son muchos los dilemas suscitados cuando un paciente rechaza un tratamiento médico, este planteamiento suele originar números inconvenientes no solo para los médicos, sino también, para el paciente y por extensión al juez de turno que le compete conocer el caso. De tal manera, que hablar de la negativa a recibir tratamiento médico suele ser un tema muy controvertido y de variadas opiniones. Una de las situaciones más controvertida en los centros hospitalarios del Ecuador se presenta cuando un paciente Testigo de Jehová rechaza una transfusión sanguínea, al ser incompatible esta praxis médica con los dictámenes de su conciencia educada en la biblia. En este artículo analizaremos como la legislación ecuatoriana persigue lograr una relación médico-paciente basada en la cooperación y el respeto.The purpose of this article is to analyze the rights that a patient has in the health care system in the Republic of Ecuador. There are many dilemmas that arise when a patient rejects a medical treatment. This approach is usually an inconvenience not only for doctor but also for the patient and by extension to the judge on duty. When we speak about refusal of medical treatment, in most cases, this triggers different opinions and arguments can arise. One of the most common situations in the hospitals of Ecuador occurs when a person who is a Jehovah's Witness rejects a blood transfusion, which goes against his or her conscience educated by means of the Bible. In this article we will discuss how the Ecuadorian legislation aims to achieve a doctor-patient relationship based on cooperation and respect.