Legal Framework for Rights and Obligations of Healthcare Practitioners and Patients

In the topic, students will gain an understanding of the nature of medical law and its relation to human rights in healthcare. Key international and European human rights documents will be addressed, including the Human Rights and Biomedical Convention (Oviedo Convention), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights and Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare. Students will analyse the importance of human dignity, autonomy, equality, privacy and the right to healthcare, as well as assess the application of these principles to the rights and obligations of patients and medical practitioners.

In the topic, students will become acquainted with the basic principles of the digital health ecosystem, the importance of digital transformation in healthcare and its impact on the quality, availability and sustainability of healthcare services. Digital health solutions including eHealth, telemedicine, artificial intelligence, wearable technology and the use of health data in medicine will be looked at. Students will analyse the regulation of the European Health data Space (EHDS), principles of digital health management, data compatibility requirements, patients’ ability to control their health data, as well as digital health developments in Latvia and the European Union. Particular attention will be paid to the legal, ethical and organisational challenges of digital transformation, as well as the importance of patient-centred healthcare and digital literacy.

In the topic, students will become acquainted with the basic principles of the digital health ecosystem, the importance of digital transformation in healthcare and its impact on the quality, availability and sustainability of healthcare services. Digital health solutions including eHealth, telemedicine, artificial intelligence, wearable technology and the use of health data in medicine will be looked at. Students will analyse the regulation of the European Health data Space (EHDS), principles of digital health management, data compatibility requirements, patients’ ability to control their health data, as well as digital health developments in Latvia and the European Union. Particular attention will be paid to the legal, ethical and organisational challenges of digital transformation, as well as the importance of patient-centred healthcare and digital literacy.

In the topic, students will become acquainted with the legal framework for sexual and reproductive rights, the principle of patient autonomy and respect for human rights in healthcare. Issues of reproductive health care, termination of pregnancy, the rights of underage patients, vaccination and the balance of public health protection with an individual’s fundamental rights will be analysed. Students will evaluate the importance of religious beliefs and freedom of conscience in the medical treatment process, including refusal of medical practitioners to provide certain health services and refusal of medical treatment by patients on religious grounds. Legal and ethical aspects of life-ending decisions, cessation of medical treatment, palliative care and protection of human dignity at the end of life will be addressed, analysing the regulatory framework of Latvia and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights

In the topic, students will analyse the mechanisms for the protection of patients’ rights within the framework of the Latvian, European Union and European Convention on Human Rights, paying particular attention to the State’s obligation to ensure safe and high quality healthcare. The legal instruments for the protection of patients’ rights, the concept of medical negligence (medical negligence) and the conditions for professional responsibility of the medical practitioner will be addressed. Students will analyse the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, including cases on the right to life, effective investigations, quality of treatment and the protection of patients’ rights, assessing the role of case law in the application of national regulation and quality assurance of healthcare. Particular attention will be paid to the application of the patient Rights Act, Medical treatment Act, Directive 2011/24/EU and other legislation in practical situations.

In the topic, students will become familiar with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, analysing the opportunities it provides and legal, ethical and organisational challenges. The European Union’s artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) framework, risk-based classification of AI systems, high risk AI system requirements and application of AI to medical devices, clinical decision support and telemedicine solutions will be addressed. Students will analyse issues of patient autonomy, informed consent, health data protection, algorithmic bias, transparency, cybersecurity and legal responsibility, as well as recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and OECD on the reliable and human-centred use of AI in healthcare. Particular attention will be paid to the role of the medical practitioner in AI-assisted decision-making, the protection of patients’ rights and the principles of digital health management.

In the topic, students in groups will analyse foreign case law on telemedicine, cross-border healthcare and the provision of digital health services. The cases to be analysed will include issues of licensing of medical practitioners, professional responsibility for providing remote healthcare services, responsibility of digital health platforms, electronic prescribing, jurisdiction in cross-border healthcare and protection of patients’ rights in the digital environment. Students will assess the factual circumstances of the case, identify the applicable legal provisions, analyse the reasoning of the court and formulate conclusions on legal risks and how to remedy them in telemedicine practice.

The topic will look at the mechanisms for protecting the rights of court and out-of-court patients. Students will become acquainted with the possibilities for submitting complaints to a medical treatment institution, supervisory authorities and other competent authorities, as well as with the protection of rights within the framework of civil proceedings, administrative proceedings and constitutional control. The activities of the Medical risk Fund, the procedures for the submission of an application, the conditions for reimbursement of harm and expenses, as well as the role of the Fund in the protection of patients’ rights will be analysed.

The topic will look at the mechanisms for protecting the rights of court and out-of-court patients. Students will become acquainted with the possibilities for submitting complaints to a medical treatment institution, supervisory authorities and other competent authorities, as well as with the protection of rights within the framework of civil proceedings, administrative proceedings and constitutional control. The activities of the Medical risk Fund, the procedures for the submission of an application, the conditions for reimbursement of harm and expenses, as well as the role of the Fund in the protection of patients’ rights will be analysed.

The topic will address patients’ rights in psychiatric medicine and the legal prerequisites, procedural guarantees and control mechanisms for the application of coercive treatment. Students will analyse the application of the principles of necessity, proportionality and least restrictive measure in cases of restriction of personal freedom and autonomy. The balance between the rights of the individual and the protection of public health in epidemiological safety situations will be assessed, including in the context of the containment of infectious diseases, isolation, vaccination and other public health measures.

The topic will address patients’ rights in psychiatric medicine and the legal prerequisites, procedural guarantees and control mechanisms for the application of coercive treatment. Students will analyse the application of the principles of necessity, proportionality and least restrictive measure in cases of restriction of personal freedom and autonomy. The balance between the rights of the individual and the protection of public health in epidemiological safety situations will be assessed, including in the context of the containment of infectious diseases, isolation, vaccination and other public health measures.

In the topic, students will analyse the legal framework for epidemiological safety and the state’s obligation to ensure public health protection while respecting human rights and patient autonomy. The legal mechanisms for limiting the spread of infectious diseases, the vaccination framework, the application of mandatory epidemiological safety measures and the importance of the principle of proportionality in limiting fundamental rights will be addressed. Students will evaluate the regulatory framework of Latvia, the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights and the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, analysing the balance of public health interests and rights of an individual in epidemiological safety situations, as well as professional duties of medical practitioners in the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

The topic will analyze the impact of digital health technologies, telemedicine, digital platforms, remote consulting and the use of artificial intelligence on patients’ and medical practitioners’ rights. Students will assess privacy, data security, equal access, discrimination risk, algorithmic bias, decision explainability and human oversight issues. The definition of professional competence, cross-border services, jurisdiction and responsibility in situations where the healthcare service is provided in a digital environment will be addressed.

The topic will analyze the impact of digital health technologies, telemedicine, digital platforms, remote consulting and the use of artificial intelligence on patients’ and medical practitioners’ rights. Students will assess privacy, data security, equal access, discrimination risk, algorithmic bias, decision explainability and human oversight issues. The definition of professional competence, cross-border services, jurisdiction and responsibility in situations where the healthcare service is provided in a digital environment will be addressed.

The topic will compare the types of legal liability of medical practitioners and the prerequisites for their application. Students will analyse the role of unlawful behaviour or inaction, guilt, harm and causation in determining liability. Civil liability for harm caused to a patient, disciplinary and professional liability, administrative liability and criminal liability for criminal offences in the field of medical treatment will be considered. Practical examples will distinguish between professional error, medical risk and legally punishable behaviour.

The topic will compare the types of legal liability of medical practitioners and the prerequisites for their application. Students will analyse the role of unlawful behaviour or inaction, guilt, harm and causation in determining liability. Civil liability for harm caused to a patient, disciplinary and professional liability, administrative liability and criminal liability for criminal offences in the field of medical treatment will be considered. Practical examples will distinguish between professional error, medical risk and legally punishable behaviour.