Under the Andalusian Health Act (2/1998), all Spanish citizens and foreigners resident inAndalusia have and are entitled to enjoy the following rights in relation to healthcare:

   To individual and group treatment and services, pursuant to the relevant legislation.

   To respect for their personalities, human dignity and privacy, not being discriminated against on any grounds.

   To be informed of any factors, situations and risk affecting individual or group health.

   To be informed of the healthcare services and treatment available to them and any requirements for their use.

   To be informed of the financial cost of the treatment and services received.

   To the confidentiality of all information related to their treatment and stay at any healthcare centre.

   To be notified if any prognostic, diagnostic or treatment service applied to them might be used for any teaching or research project, which shall under no circumstances involve any additional health risk. In all cases the patient’s prior authorisation in writing shall be required, as well as acceptance by the relevant doctor and the management of the health centre in question.

   Together with the patient's relatives or companions, to receive ongoing, detailed and readily understandable information, both orally and in writing, on the treatment given, including diagnosis, prognosis and any alternative treatments.

   To be issued upon request a certificate accrediting the patient’s state of health.

   For all treatment to be dully documented in writing or electronically. At the end of patient’s stay in a healthcare institution, the patient, relative or companion shall receive the corresponding discharge information.

   To access to the patient’s clinical history.

   To a free choice of doctors, other healthcare professionals, services and healthcare centres under the relevant regulatory terms and conditions.

   To a guarantee, within the Andalusian territorial boundaries, that access to medical treatment is available within a maximum time, under the relevant regulatory terms and conditions and in accordance with the corresponding deadlines fixes.

   To be assigned a doctor, whose name shall be given, to act as patient’s main contact with the healthcare staff. In the absence of this person, another member of the medical team shall take over this role.

   To make free choice from the options presented by the medical contact for the patient’s case, with the patient’s prior consent in writing being required for any treatment, except in the following cases:

       If failure to apply the treatment would lead to a public health risk.

        If the patient is in no condition to make decisions, in with case, this right shall correspond to the patient’s relatives or companions. If no relatives or companions are present or cannot be located, this right shall correspond to the judicial authorities.

        If the risk of irreversible injury or death requires urgent action to be taken.

  To receive a second medical opinion on the patient’s treatment, under the relevant regulatory terms and conditions.

  To refuse treatments, excepts in cases set out the aforesaid Act.

  To participate in healthcare services and activities through the channels provided under the Act and any such further provisions as many be made.

  To use the mechanisms for lodging complaints and making suggestions, and to receive a reply I writing by the relevant legally established deadlines.

  To have access, at all healthcare centres and establishments, to a Charter or Rights and Duties governing the patient’s relationship with such centres establishments.

    Without prejudice to the other provisions included herein and pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Civil Code, mentally ill patients shall have the following rights:

       To the requirement that healthcare centre request the relevant judicial authorisation in cases of involuntary admission with no prior judicial authorisation, or, in cases of voluntary admission, if the patient’s, mental state should prove to be abnormal after such admission.

        To be requirement that the centre should review at least every three months the need for such forced internment. The relevant judicial authorities shall be informed of the results of such review.

Citizens also have the following individual duties:

     To comply with health-related instructions common to the population as a whole and with specific instructions as determined by the healthcare services.

    To take appropriate care of the facilities and collaborate in the maintenance of the habitability of healthcare centres.

     To accept responsibility for the proper use of the resources provided by the healthcare systems, particularly in relation to the use of services, sick-leave procedures and treatment.

     Comply with the relevant regulations and procedures in relation to the use of and access to the rights afforded by the aforesaid Act.

     Maintain due respect for the internal rules at each healthcare centre and the staff who provide services there.

   In the event of refusal to accept any healthcare actions, to sign the relevant document, which shall clearly state that the patient, even after having been properly informed, has refused the suggested treatment.