The Bundestag is continuing discussions on reforming the Patients’ Rights Act: the Health Committee has scheduled a public hearing for 11 November 2026. The focus will be on the draft bill introduced in July by Bündnis 90/Die Grünen which aims to strengthen the position of patients following suspected medical errors. The proposal was discussed again in Parliament on 5 November.
The draft’s key points include extended information requirements for healthcare providers, clearly defined organisational responsibility for hospital management and easing the burden of proof for those affected. In addition, statutory health insurance funds are to be given greater scope to support people in enforcing their claims. The Greens cite existing obstacles to investigating cases of harm and call for more accessible records and reliable procedures to enforce legitimate claims more efficiently.
The The German Medical Association has criticised the proposal in a statement. It warns that lowering the standard of proof could lead to defensive medicine, additional record-keeping and pressure on day-to-day healthcare provision. Rather than procedural easements, the Association recommends improving the quality and availability of medical experts and specifically promoting the quality of proceedings. It also cautions against pitting patient safety against legal certainty for healthcare professionals.
The hearing of the Health Committee is intended to bring together experts from medicine, law and healthcare practice. They are expected to give their views on the proposed rules on evidence, the design of organisational responsibility and possible effects on patient safety, staffing demands and liability risks. The meeting is public; the Bundestag will broadcast it live.
The precise wording of the draft bill will be legally decisive: the extent of any easing of the burden of proof, the duties hospital management will have to fulfil in future, and the ways in which statutory health insurance funds may support those affected will determine whether the legislation delivers real improvements for patients or creates unintended consequences for healthcare provision. The Bundestag has yet to vote on the bill. The hearing and subsequent committee discussions will bring the differing positions of Alliance 90/The Greens, the German Medical Association and other organisations into sharper focus; they will significantly shape the further course of the legislative process.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).