Patient Rights
Patient rights and responsibilities
Under the Enforcement Rule of the Korean Medical Service Act, we set out the rights and duties of patients.
This document sets out the rights and duties of patients under the Enforcement Rule of the Korean Medical Service Act. Only the Korean version has legal effect. The other languages are reference translations provided to aid understanding.
Rights
Patient rights
- 01
The right to receive medical care
A patient has the right to receive appropriate health and medical services in order to protect and promote their health, and is not subject to unfair discrimination in treatment on grounds such as sex, age, religion, social status or economic circumstances. A medical practitioner may not refuse to provide treatment without justifiable grounds.
- 02
The right to be informed and to decide for yourself
A patient may receive a full explanation from the doctor, nurse or other staff in charge regarding the state of the illness, the method of treatment, whether the patient is to be the subject of medical research, whether an organ transplant is involved, expected outcomes including side effects, and the cost of treatment. The patient may ask about them in detail, and has the right to decide whether to consent to them.
- 03
The right to confidentiality
A patient's bodily and health-related secrets connected with treatment, and the secrets of their private life, shall not be infringed. Medical practitioners and medical institutions may not disclose or publish a patient's information except with the patient's consent or in cases prescribed by law, such as a criminal investigation.
- 04
The right to seek counselling and mediation
If a dispute arises in connection with medical services, a patient may apply for counselling and mediation to bodies such as the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency (한국의료분쟁조정중재원).
Duties
Patient duties
- 01
The duty to trust and respect medical staff
A patient shall inform medical practitioners accurately of information relating to their own health, and shall trust and respect the treatment plan of the medical practitioner.
- 02
The duty not to obtain care by improper means
A patient shall identify themselves before receiving treatment, and shall not obtain treatment by false or improper means, such as receiving treatment under another person's name.
Support
Where to seek counselling and mediation
If anything about your care troubles you or needs checking, tell the clinic first and we will look into it and let you know.
Give Me Clinic · 02-592-3355
37 Seocho-daero 77-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 8th floor
Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency
Counselling, mediation and arbitration for medical disputes
1670-2545 · www.k-medi.or.kr
Korea Consumer Agency
Counselling on consumer harm relating to medical services
1372 · www.kca.go.kr
Health and Welfare Call Centre
Enquiries on health and medical policy, and public complaints
129 · www.129.go.kr