La place du patient dans le système de santé : Evolution et législation

Individuals admitted to healthcare institutions possess fundamental rights that derive from constitutional principles. These rights are affirmed in legislative laws, as well as in regulatory texts adopted for their implementation, and are further reinforced by both administrative and judicial case law. For a long time, the patient was viewed as a vulnerable being who needed protection. The doctor–patient relationship, characterized by paternalism, was based on the principle of beneficence toward a person perceived to be in a state of weakness. However, this type of relationship has shown a number of limitations over time. The establishment of health democracy aimed to place the patient back at the center of the medical relationship. It seeks to promote a more egalitarian interaction in which the patient is recognized as a true citizen. In Morocco, patients rights are guaranteed by the Constitution, as well as by various legislative acts and regulations, including the Medical Code of Ethics. The recognition of these rights grants patients greater autonomy and serves as the foundation for a democratic dynamic. It enables patients to act as genuine participants in their own healthcare.