Uloga medicinskog prava u funkcionisanju zdravstvenog sistema

Abstract

In order to have a better and more efficient functioning of the health system of any country, it is necessary to know the legal functioning of health institutions and to understand the rights of patients and the rights of health care workers. It is necessary to know the general concepts of health legislation, different legal rules whose object are human health and health care. Knowledge of the public health ethics, human rights and values in health care, rights and responsibilities of patients and the rights and duties of health workers and their safety at work have a special significance. And in the end, it is essential to control the entire health care system and prevent criminal acts connected to the performance of health services or, if that's not possible, to sanction them appropriately. Objective. The objective of this paper is to highlight the role and importance of knowing the regulations of the functioning of the health system, that is knowledge of legal rules that regulate medical activity. Methods. The literature that was analysed comes from the field of medical law, social medicine, public health, legal and sublegal documentation in the field of healthcare and others. Current knowledge in the field of medical law were followed. Results. Medical law is a set of legal rules governing medical activity, that determine properties of the entities that carry out this activity and their relationship with the users of their services. Medical law is part of a larger field called the health law, and that covers all legislation in the interest of public health. Medical law make adequate state regulations and rules adopted by professional associations of health professionals (medical, dental and pharmaceutical commerce), and both regulations are approved by the relevant ministries. Regulations govern the rules of behavior of health workers while performing their activities, their internal relationship, relationship with patients, public relations, relationship to society, etc. Conclusion. The health system of each country works better and more efficiently if health workers are well acquainted with the legal functioning of health institutions, the rights of patients and their own rights. In addition, it is necessary that lawyers are trained specifically in the field of legal medicine, which requires a good knowledge of the national and international legal regulations in the field of medical activity. The need of elementary knowledge of medical law must go to all the health care users, the general population, should not be ignored.