Your right to be informed and give consent

As a patient, you have a right to information about your health, your diagnosis, your treatment possibilities for your illness, and the risk of complications and side effects. You have the right to be informed about possibilities for prevention, care and treatment of your illness, and about your prospects. You can also decline information about your illness. And you can decline treatment. If you decline treatment, you must be informed which consequences this may have. From the age of 16, you can decide if you want to have the examinations and treatment offered to you. You must always give your consent for the examinations and treatment offered before they may proceed. If you’re between 15 and 17, your parents are usually also informed and involved in your treatment. In life-threatening situations, where you’re not able to give consent, 
the doctor can give you instant treatment without first getting consent from you or your relatives.