Right to an explanation of medical records?

Questioner

I know that as a patient I have the right to access my medical file. At a certain hospital in the Netherlands (cancer research) I have viewed the contents of my file online (via logging in). Many of the parts that are very important to me are written in jargon and often in abbreviations. In short, incomprehensible to me. I asked the hospital (oncology + urology + radiology) to briefly explain the few parts I selected in understandable Dutch. Apparently it runs there (despite the investigations in the departments mentioned) via only one doctor (urology department) who decides in this matter. The oncology department only repeated that one doctor and the radiology department did not respond at all. The doctor wrote by email on December 12: 1 “If you have any questions, you can make an appointment, as previously indicated.” 2 “If you do not trust me and my explanation regarding the diagnostics and treatment used is not to your liking, then you are free to ask for a second opinion elsewhere.” Re 1: The doctor in question knows very well that I will be in Asia as a photographer until May/June 2024. The questions require (and the doctor knows this all too well) a prompt answer. After all, it concerns my immediate, current state of health! Re 2: It is clear that the doctor is trying to avoid my questions about the explanation of the file. I am largely convinced that the procedure was very much at odds with standard medical care (I have read up very thoroughly online) and may have seriously damaged my health. My question to you is: As a patient, do I have the right to an explanation about my medical file?

Lawyer

Yes, as a patient you have the right to an explanation of your medical file. According to the Medical Treatment Agreement Act (WGBO), you as a patient have the right to inspect and obtain an explanation of your medical file. The treating physician has the duty to inform the patient about his state of health and the proposed treatment. This right to information is part of the treatment agreement. Informing the patient must be done in a way that the patient can understand. As a patient, you have the right to be informed in a language that you can understand. In addition, you have the right to request a copy of your medical file. This right allows you to share your medical file with another doctor for a second opinion. You may be required to pay a fee for providing copies of medical information. If the doctor in question refuses to provide an explanation, you may consider filing a complaint with the hospital's complaints committee. If this does not produce a satisfactory result, you may also file a complaint with the Regional Disciplinary Board for Healthcare. Please note: this is only an orientation advice. It is advisable to contact a lawyer or attorney to discuss your specific situation. ---------------- Stichting Rechtswinkel.nl is a national organization with students and volunteers. The above advice is based on limited information and may be incomplete or even incorrect for your situation. Always consult a lawyer or attorney for your further steps. Read disclaimer: https://rechtswinkel.nl/disclaimer I would like to invite you to rate the above answer so that we can learn from your response.