Conflict with the doctor’s duty to provide assistance

Abstract

Acting for the benefit of a patient is part of the obligation to preserve life or health set out under Polish law. Pursuant to Article 30 of the Act on the Professions of Doctor and Dentist of 5 December 1996, a doctor is obliged to provide medical assistance whenever a delay in granting it could result in the risk of loss of life, serious bodily injury or serious health disorder, and in other urgent cases. At the same time, a doctor cannot be expected to put his or her health or life at risk in every situation. Exceptions are events where a doctor is unable to provide assistance due to illness or a psychophysical condition, where there is a conflict of responsibilities, or where a doctor providing assistance would have to expose himself or herself to the loss of life or health.