How up-to-date does medical knowledge have to be?
Abstract
The Act regulating the medical and dental professions says that every physician is obliged to perform his or her profession in accordance with current medical knowledge, available methods and means of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, the principles of professional ethics and with due diligence. The doctors’ code of ethics states that the professional activities of a physician must be in accordance with his or her conscience and modern medical knowledge. It also guarantees each physician the right to choose those treatment methods which he considers to be the most effective, always within the context of activities that are actually necessary according to the current state of medical knowledge. The physician’s obligations are correlated with the patient’s rights, namely a power to obtain treatment which meets the requirements of current medical knowledge. The legislature deliberately has not created a legal, precise definition of current medical knowledge, because this allows a wider assessment of a physician’s performance in terms of compliance with its standards.
Keywords: current medical knowledgeavailable meansdue diligence
References
- Art. 4 of the Act on doctor’s and dentist’s profession, Journal of Laws 2019.537.
- The announcement of the President of the Chief Medical Council number 1/04/IV 2nd January 2004.
- The Act on patients’ rights. Journal of Laws 2019.1127.
- Kopeć M, Buczek E, Caban Ł. et al. ed. Ustawa o zawodach lekarza i lekarza dentysty. Komentarz. Wolters Kluwer, Warszawa 2016.
- Judgment of the Supreme Court December 10, 2002, V KK 33/02, LEX No. 75498.
- Judgment of the Supreme Court October 13, 2005, IV CK 161/05, TSO 2006; 6: 71 2006.
- Judgment of the Supreme Court of January 18 2013, IV CSK 431/12, LEX 1275006.
- Judgment of the Supreme Court of April 1, 1955, IV CR 39/54, OSNCK 1957; 1: 7.
- Barcikowska-Szydło E, Kapko M, Majcher K. ed. Ustawa o zawodach lekarza i lekarza dentysty. Komentarz. LEX, Warszawa 2014.
- Lenczowska-Soboń K. Ustalenie zdarzenia medycznego. Serwis Prawo i Zdrowie. Wolters Kluwer, Warszawa 2013.
- Widłak T. Interpretacja klauzuli ‘aktualna wiedza medyczna’ w polskim prawie — zarys zagadnień epistemologicznych i metodologicznyc. Gdańskie Studia Prawnicze. 2017; XXXVIII: 603–613.
- Banaszczyk Z, Boratyńska Z, Borysiak W. et al. Prawo wobec medycyny i biotechnologii. Zbiór orzeczeń z komentarzami. (ed. Safjan M). Oficyna, Warszawa 2011: 110.
- Karkowska D. Prawo medyczne dla pielęgniarek. LEX, Warszawa 2013.
- Haberko J. Aktualna wiedza medyczna a stosowanie homeopatii. Medyczna Wokanda. 2008; 1: 47–59.
- Judgement of the Appellate Court in Gdansk of 24 January 2018, V Aca 735/14, LEX 2515999.
- Daniluk P. Czynność lecznicza jako kontratyp. PiM. 2008; 2: 35–36.
- Karkowska D, Włodarczyk W. Prawo medyczne dla pielęgniarek. LEX, Warszawa 2013: 26.
- Sadowska M. Zapobieganie błędom medycznym w praktyce. Wolters Kluwer, Warszawa 2019.
- Dąbek A. Ograniczona względami ekonomicznymi dostępność świadczeń zdrowotnych a naruszenie przez lekarza reguł ostrożności. Zeszyt Studencki Kół Naukowych Wydziału Prawa i Administracji UAM. 2016(6): 69–83.
- Dukiet-Nagórska T. Penal consequences of not taking medical intervention or providing the health service in a wrong way) due to a lack of funds in a public health care facility. PiM. 2000(2): 17–526.
- Zielińska E. ed. Ustawa o zawodach lekarza i lekarza dentysty. Komentarz. LEX, Warszawa 2014: 87–89.
