Abstract

Giving a definition of the concept of health is not easy. If we take as a reference from the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO) at the time of its constitution dating back to July 22, 1946 in New York and entered into force on April 7, 1948, it reads, “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and does not consist merely of an absence of disease or infirmity” Constitution of the World Health Organization [1]. Alongside the right to physical and mental integrity, which is configured as a personality right, and from third parties, is the right to obtain health care services, both preventive and curative. In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the concept of health and humanization of care, the debate has been extended to the various fields of inquiry, not confined to the medical field alone, but from Psychology to Law and the role each professional plays within the multidisciplinary team. In this review, regulatory sources to protect health care will be analyzed and explained, taking into consideration the experience of the patient and the team treating him or her, following a perspective that respects the dignity of the person and the role of the health care personnel in charge.

Keywords:Illness; Physical integrity; Informed consent; Nursing; Relationship and communication; Medico-legal aspects