Disciplinary law, complaints and disputes

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It may occur that a patient is dissatisfied with the care received and files a complaint with the healthcare organisation (based on the Healthcare Quality, Complaints and Disputes Act (Wkkgz)) or with the disciplinary board for healthcare. For example, if, in the opinion of a patient, a doctor has acted carelessly, acted too slowly or provided insufficient information. We are also increasingly seeing that sexually transgressive behaviour by a healthcare provider is the subject of a disciplinary complaint. A disciplinary complaint can great impact. It is therefore important for the healthcare professional to receive assistance at an early stage, both in a legal and human sense. Kienhuis Legal helps you with both.

Lower threshold for complaints

Patients are placing increasingly higher demands on the (quality of) healthcare provision and are also becoming more articulate. They also have increasing access to all kinds of information (sources). This allows people to view healthcare providers and compare quality on several websites. The threshold to file a complaint has also been lowered considerably due to government incentives. This has consequences for healthcare providers.

Healthcare providers must have an adequate complaints procedure in place under the law (Wkkgz) and be affiliated with a dispute body. We can assist healthcare providers with complaints and disputes on the basis of the Wkkgz as well as with disciplinary complaints. As an untreated complaint can also have civil liability and insurance implications, it is advisable to seek help in time. This, of course, also applies to reputational damage.

What we do

We unburden those involved, so that they can continue to focus on their profession: the treatment and care of the patient. We advise and litigate where necessary. If possible, we would like to be involved at an early stage, so that we can also think along strategically about solutions. These solutions may also include mediation or other types of alternative dispute resolution.

Years of experience

What should you do if you receive a complaint? What are you allowed to say or not say? How can you reduce the likelihood of a complaint in specific situations? Kienhuis Legal answers these and other important questions. In doing so, we draw on our many years of practical experience in the field of health law. We assist in how to engage with clients when they express dissatisfaction and give advice on how to prevent complaints. We also able to assist in drafting the defence and hearing in court.

In addition, we help you to comply with all parts of the Wkkgz. This includes legal and practical support in the implementation of the Wkkgz, such as advice in preparation for a conversation about an incident or emergency, drawing up an emergency report and investigation conducted by the IGJ in response to a report or a (threatening) complaint.