- Its main function is to resolve any conflict between patients and doctors.
- It also focuses on promoting healthy work environments for all health professionals.
- Conamed was founded on June 3, 1996.
The legal part is very important for all health professionals and there is an authority that all doctors should know. It’s about the National Medical Arbitration Commission (Conamed) and today is celebrating its 26th anniversary. Although in reality its functions are quite broad and that is why it is essential to know the situations in which it can support you.
History and trajectory
It is a decentralized body of the Ministry of Health (SSa) and was created by presidential decree. Its publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation appeared on June 3, 1996. From the beginning, its objective has been to help protect the right to health protection, as well as to improve the quality of medical services.
Therefore, it is an institution whose purpose is to help resolve conflicts arising between users of medical services and their providers in a friendly manner and in good faith. Likewise, it promotes and encourages a good relationship, dignified treatment, values, adherence to the medical lex artis and ethics in the doctor-patient relationship.
Other functions it has
In addition, Conamed is a specialized entity that has technical autonomy and has powers to receive complaints, investigate alleged irregularities in the provision of medical services and issue their opinions, agreements and awards. The goal of all of the above is to resolve conflicts acting with impartiality, confidentiality and respect. To achieve this, it is based on procedures for conflict resolution such as: orientation, immediate management, conciliation and arbitration.
How does Conamed help to resolve conflicts between doctors and patients?
It allows citizens and health service providers to settle and resolve their differences or complaints, in a specialized environment, with full respect for their rights, obligations and in accordance with the medical lex artis, ethics and applicable regulations.
We celebrate 26 years… Working for you | National Medical Arbitration Commission |
Clarity, impartiality and confidentiality | We are here to help you!
Learn more in https://t.co/f709VGhyiG pic.twitter.com/4FvPHE8iTj
— National Medical Arbitration Commission (@CONAMED_SALUD) June 3, 2022
The basic process is summarized in a modular care that ensures a specialized and personalized service, through competent personnel, both medical and legal, and applies standardized processes. Both parties, petitioner and defendant, must accept, voluntarily and in good faith, the institutional procedure; which begins with the presentation of the medical complaint.
What issues does CONAMED handle?
Acts or omissions derived from the provision of health services, as well as alleged acts of possible bad practice with consequences on the user’s health. Which means, in the strict sense, that it only deals with problems related to such services or with the refusal to provide them.
In addition to resolving conflicts, Conamed also focuses on fostering decent work environments for physicians. For that to exist indicates that everyone has 10 fundamental rights that they must receive.
- Exercise the profession freely and without pressure of any nature. The doctor has the right to have his clinical judgment respected (his conclusions about diagnosis and treatment) and his freedom to prescribe or indicate treatments; as well as its probable decision to decline or reject the care of any patient, provided that such aspects are based on ethical, scientific and regulatory principles.
- Work in appropriate and safe facilities that guarantee their professional practice.
- Have at your disposal the resources that your professional practice requires. It is a doctor’s right to receive from the establishment where he provides his service: suitable personnel, as well as equipment, instruments and necessary supplies, according to the service he provides.
- Refrain from guaranteeing results in medical care. The doctor has the right not to make conclusive judgments about the expected results of medical care.
- Receive respectful treatment from patients and their families, as well as staff related to their professional work. In addition, the doctor has the right to receive complete, truthful and timely information related to the patient’s health status.
- Have access to continuing medical education and be considered equal opportunities for their professional development, in order to stay current.
- Have access to research and teaching activities in the field of their profession.
- Partner to serve your professional interests. Physicians have the right to join organizations, associations and colleges for their professional development, in order to promote the improvement of their members and monitor proper professional practice, in accordance with the provisions of the law.
- Safeguard your professional prestige. The doctor has the right to defend his professional prestige and that his information be treated with privacy if there is a probable controversy, and in his case to claim compensation for the damage caused.
- Receive remuneration for services rendered. Physicians have the right to be paid for the professional services they provide, in accordance with their contract, employment status or as agreed with the patient.