Legal Protection of Patients' Rights in Health Services at Guray Petumbukan Hospital

Abstract

Health constitutes a fundamental human right that must be guaranteed by the State through the provision of safe, quality, equitable, and non-discriminatory healthcare services, including hospital services as individual healthcare facilities. This study aims to analyze the legal regulation of patient protection and the implementation of legal protection for patients in healthcare services at Guray Petumbukan Hospital. The issues examined concern the legal framework governing patient protection within the Indonesian health law system and its practical implementation in hospital services. This research employs an empirical juridical method with a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were obtained through literature review of relevant laws and regulations, particularly Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health, as well as through interviews with parties involved in healthcare services at Guray Petumbukan Hospital. The findings indicate that legal protection for patients has been comprehensively regulated, including provisions on patient rights, obligations of hospitals, duties of healthcare professionals, and institutional legal liability. However, its implementation has not yet been optimal, as evidenced by inadequate provision of medical information, the substantive shortcomings in the application of informed consent, limited patient awareness of their rights, and ineffective complaint-handling mechanisms. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the implementation of legal protection through improving communication between healthcare providers and patients, enhancing dissemination of patient rights, optimizing complaint management systems, and reinforcing internal supervision, in order to ensure that patient protection is effectively realized in healthcare practice.