Access to medical confidentiality for close relatives

Parliamentarians adopted in the second final reading amendments and additions to the law “On the Fundamentals of Protecting Citizens’ Health”. Now the spouse, as well as close relatives of a citizen after his death will be able to get acquainted with and receive medical documentation and extracts from them. If during his lifetime the citizen or his legal representative did not prohibit the disclosure of such information.

According to the relevant Committee on Social Policy, this will eliminate the suspicion of close relatives, guardians (trustees) that the death of a person was caused by untimely or poor-quality medical care, and clarify the circumstances of the death. In addition, family members may need access to the deceased's medical information. If it is necessary to diagnose and treat genetic, infectious and other diseases in particular.

According to the adopted amendments to the law “On the Fundamentals of Protecting the Health of Citizens”, after the death of a citizen, spouse, guardians (trustees) and close relatives have the right to directly familiarize themselves with his medical documentation, as well as receive this medical documentation, copies and extracts from them, upon written request , to whom during his lifetime the citizen or his legal representative (in relation to persons under the age of 15 years and persons recognized as legally incompetent in accordance with the established procedure) was not prohibited from disclosing information constituting a medical secret. The procedure and timing for the provision of medical documentation, as well as familiarization with such medical documentation, are established by the executive body of state power, which is responsible for healthcare issues.