Luxembourg Declaration on Patient Safety (2005)
Access to high quality healthcare is a key human right recognised and valued by the European Union, its Institutions and the citizens of Europe. Accordingly, patients have a right to expect that every effort is made to ensure their safety as users of all health services.
Focus on patient safety also leads to savings in connection to the increased treatment of patients exposed to adverse events and ensure better use of financial resources. In addition savings are achieved in administration costs in connection with complaints and applications for compensations.
Most importantly, patient safety would contribute to an increase of quality of life. In order to achieve this, the culture of safety can be improved significantly in various ways.
In light of the above, the Luxembourg conference of 4-5 April 2005 recommends that "Patient Safety" is placed high on the political agendas in the EU, nationally in the EU Member States and locally in the health care sector. It recommend in particular to the Health Care Authorities
- To provide patients with full and free access to their personal health information for ensuring data accuracy and personal understanding of their treatment since “informed patients” are well positioned for safeguarding their health [...]
- To optimise the use of new technologies, for example by introducing electronic patient records including the personal medical profile and decision-making support programs for health professionals in order to reduce medication errors and increase compliance. [...]
