Juridical Analysis of Civil Liability of Defaulting Patients to Hospitals
Keywords:
Patient Default, Civil Liability, Hospital, Legal Protection.Abstract
The legal relationship between the patient and the hospital is a civil relationship that gives rise to rights and obligations for each party. In the implementation of health services, patients not only have the right to obtain optimal medical services, but are also obliged to fulfill the agreed achievements, including the obligation to pay health service fees. However, in practice, there are still patients who do not fulfill their obligations, causing legal problems in the form of default. This condition can cause losses for the hospital both financially and operationally, so a study is needed on the civil liability of patients who commit defaults against the hospital. This study aims to analyze the legal relationship between patients and hospitals, identify forms of default committed by patients, and examine patients' civil liability based on applicable legal provisions. The research method used is normative juridical research with a statutory approach, a conceptual approach, and a case approach. The legal materials used include the Civil Code, Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health, relevant court decisions, and various legal literature related to default and civil liability. The results of the study show that the legal relationship between patients and hospitals is based on a health service agreement that binds the parties based on the principle of pacta sunt servanda. Patient default can be in the form of non-payment, late payment, or non-fulfillment of a predetermined payment agreement. This action gives rise to civil liability in the form of an obligation to pay compensation for losses suffered by the hospital. Hospitals also have the right to pursue legal remedies both through non-litigation and litigation mechanisms to obtain legal protection and the fulfillment of their rights. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen regulations that are able to provide legal certainty and create a balance of protection of rights and obligations between patients and hospitals.
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