Patientʼs Dignity. Unequal Access to Medical Treatment

Abstract

This article examines how unequal access to medical treatment generates systemic discrimination and undermines patients' dignity. Although Article 3 of Law 46/2003 on patient rights guarantees respect for all persons without discrimination, patients belonging to vulnerable groups, such as ethnic minorities, disabled persons, or older persons, continue to face structural barriers that restrict their access to adequate medical care. The analysis assesses both the national and European legal frameworks, highlighting the mechanisms through which financial, linguistic, and infrastructural barriers perpetuate implicit discrimination.