MedInform

Journal of Medical and Dental Practice

www.medinform.bgISSN 2367-6795

Issue Two 2016

2016, Vol. 3, issue 2, (December)

Publisher: Medinform LTD
ISSN: 2367-6795
Pages: 422-513
Date of close: 2016/12/09

Literature Review

Linguistic services in healthcare sector as factor in access to medical care – Bulgarian perspective

Abstract:

The lack of adequate linguistic services in healthcare could result violations or lack of attention to human rights, which can have serious consequences. Such condition can even cause discrimination in the delivery of health services and violation to fundamental human rights.
Bulgarian national legislation only contains provisions, which set up a responsibility for the treating physician to keep a medical file of the patient, but does not introduce strict obligation for healthcare providers to maintain language services to patients who cannot access the national language.
It is crucial for patients to have full access to information in the course of providing medical care, because this is the only way to be guaranteed the patients’ autonomy.

Authors:

Alexandrina Vodenitcharova; Faculty of Public Health, Medical University - Sofia;

Corresponding Author:

Assist. Prof. Alexandrina Vodenitcharova, PhD; Faculty of Public Health Medical University - Sofia; 1527 Sofia, Bulgaria 8 Bialo more str.; Email this author