Evaluation of Patients' Privacy Rights: A Swiss Healthcare Level Perspective
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Abstract
Patients are progressively recognised and emphasised both nationally and internationally from the context of healthcare prioritisation. Patients' privacy rights should be regarded as personal challenges especially on how healthcare providers perceived and respect privacy rights of patients and other human right contexts. Health is one of the most vital assets in every individual around the world and requires that a successful patient-physician relationship in healthcare services comes from maintaining the rights of patients, including privacy, integrity and confidentiality of medical information. This paper evaluatesthe privacy rights of patients based on the existing patients' rights and other human right contexts towards care prioritisation in Swiss healthcare centres. It carries out a qualitative research method by phenomenological approach of in-depth and follow-up interviews. A specific data collection form was designed for the purpose of obtaining the relevant data. Data was generated from 44 different Swiss listed participating public and private healthcare centres using a sample size of 45 participants comprising patients, nurses and physicians. It explores the challenges and benefits faced by healthcare providers relating to privacy rights of patients in healthcare settings. The results of the paper showed inadequate enlightenment on patients' rights on the part of healthcare providers, patients and other healthcare practitioners. The paper also unveils inconsistent and non-uniform regulations, inadequate organisational and administrative safeguards, and as well as non-compliance with existing laws and standards. The paper concludes by suggesting measures for protecting privacy rights of patients, while ensuring a high level of data security with respect to computerised patient information. Finally, the paper provides recommendations to align the distinctive patients' privacy regulations and procedures across all cantons within Switzerland.